April 2021

Dear Members,

Seasons greetings!
It is painful to note that in spite of the extraordinary efforts of the Government and the modern medical fraternity altruistic services,
pandemic second wave surge is touching record heights. India has recorded the highest number of new Covid cases across the country
with more than one lakh new cases, the highest daily increase recorded in the country since the beginning of the pandemic. Indian
Medical Association and entire 3.5 lakh modern medical fraternities stood proactively with our Government in the path breaking vaccine
drive initiative and played an active role in mitigating vaccine hesitancy among the front line workers and public. The guidelines
enforced for test, trace and treat concept promulgated by the ministry of health was actively implemented across the country to
break the chain .However due to the emergent complacent, mass gatherings without masks, noncompliance of COVID appropriate
behaviors’ and the deterrent mutations in the virus, had surpassed our efforts to emerge as a fast spreading second wave. Stern
implementation and execution of certain pre-emptive efforts will prove the key to contain the fast spreading pandemic. Zero tolerance
against the noncompliance of COVID appropriate behaviours, augmentation of infrastructure beds and oxygen availability, moral
support and enthusiastic engagements of frontline health workers, ensuring adequate health care protective gears support and strict
adherence to the evidence based treatment protocols are the key factors needed at this moment.

Vaccination against COVID stands as single evidence based resource for us to restrict the cases by raising the personal immune
response and pave way for herd immunity to decrease the severity of the disease.

We have covered total 7.91 crore of population with covid vaccination till date, out of which 6.86 crores have received their first
inoculation & 1.05 crore with second dose. At present we are vaccinating the population above 45 years. In view of the rapid
spread of the second wave of the disease, we suggest that the vaccination strategy needs to be geared up with immediate effect on
war foot. We request following suggestions in the Covid Vaccination Drive.

• All citizens above 18 years of age shall be permitted to receive COVID vaccination.
• Walk in COVID vaccination should be available for all, free of cost at their nearest possible place.
• Private sector family clinics also shall be included actively in the vaccination drive along with private hospitals. Availability of vaccination with all doctors & and family physicians will have positive impact on the vaccination drive.
• District level vaccine task force team shall be constituted with public, private participation to enforce mass vaccination and monitoring and mitigating the adverse drug events and build confidence. IMA is willing to actively take part in it.
• Vaccination certificate shall be made a mandatory certificate for entering in to public places and receive products under public distribution system.
• As there is acute spurt of this disease as an measure to immediate break the chain, limited period continuous restriction shall be implemented especially for all the non-essential areas like cinema, cultural and religious events, sports, etc.

Early diagnosis on the pretext of contact or presumptive symptoms and immediate consultation with the Doctor or Hospital is the need
for early recovery in Covid- 19, is the lesson that we have learnt in the past one year. The drug Remedisivir given in the first week, when
there is an exponential raise of Viral markers, with moderate to severe symptoms does yield a total benefit for the patients for the recovery path.
IMA invokes public to adhere to Appropriate use of masks as it is equal to receive a vaccine. IMA also request people to venture out
only when it is absolute necessary and adopt physical distance and hand washing at all situations.

IMA compliment the Government of India Health ministry for expediting the approval of Russian Sputnik V vaccine to enhancing
mass vaccination and also ensuring the availability of the multiple drugs including Injection Remedisivir in the country by stopping
export and capping the price.

IMA is conducting periodic appraisal and hand holding for our health care professionals to the evidenced based treatment protocol
to be executed on affordable and accessible way and assure the  public not to get panic and make use of the infrastructure at the earliest symptoms of disease and help us in the containment, surveillance, testing, tracing, vaccination and treatment.

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