Features
Covid Vaccines: Are they cure-all for pandemic?

MBBS(Cey), DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Paed), MRCP(UK), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lon), FRCPCH(UK), FSLCPaed, FCCP, Hony FRCPCH(UK), Hony. FCGP(SL)
Specialist Consultant Paediatrician and Honorary Senior Fellow, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
It is not all that necessary to point out the global and local impact of this coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease. It is now well known that Infection rates are mounting, deaths are increasing and many variants or mutants are emerging all over the world, as well as the fact that the onslaught of the blight is affecting very many countries in the world. In a concerted effort towards responding to the pandemic, several countries of the world have produced several vaccines of different types. Many of these are in the testing stage still and a few have been approved and licensed for use. Quite a few countries have gone far with their vaccination initiatives and we, in our little Paradise Isle, have started our vaccination programmes.
Many people are under the impression that vaccines are the panacea for all ills in COVID-19 and that it is the God-given gift to mankind against this pandemic. It has been promulgated fervently and assiduously as the ONLY solution to the problem. Even top statesmen have gone on record to say that this is so. However, it is as far away as we can get to the truth and reality. Vaccines are NOT the ONLY solution to all the woes of COVID-19. Let us get one thing quite straight: at best, it is just one of the strategies that are a part of a multi-faceted and multi-pronged onslaught against the vagaries of this nasty little virus.
The most serious pandemic in the last century, now known as Spanish influenza or Spanish Flu, occurred in the West in 1918/1919. More than 40 million people, perhaps approaching 50 million, from all over the planet, died from an infection with an influenza A virus of the subtype H1N1. The exact origin of that pandemic influenza A virus strain is still not known. There were no anti-viral drugs, no vaccines and people were advised to avoid crowds, wear masks and wash their hands. It killed loads of people but those who survived had no long-term problems. Then the virus went away EVEN WITHOUT A VACCINE. In the most likely scenario of that cataclysmic pandemic, more than 70 per cent of those who were alive had immunity following infection with the virus; the so-called “Herd Immunity”. There were no susceptible humans for the virus to tag on to, and it was not able to survive and propagate. So, Mother Nature got rid of it.
Now then…, let us get one thing straight. To get herd immunity to the current coronavirus, over seventy per cent of the population have to be either people who have recovered after contracting the disease or those who have been vaccinated. So far only one country seems to have achieved that magic number of over 70 per cent; that is Israel. Today, the Israelites have the disease well under control. Of course, there are a few new cases detected every day but things are under control and their scientists are convinced that there is no major threat, at the present time. People have been set free. Bars and restaurants, the beaches, the cinemas, entertainment sites etc.., all are open freely to the public PROVIDED they can show the vaccination certificate. The schools are run as usual and their scientists believe that there is no serious threat to the children, although they are not vaccinated. Yet for all that, the health authorities are keeping a very sharp eye on the situation and they will act pronto if things get out of hand or deteriorate.
However, what is not generally appreciated is that the Israeli authorities did some other things, even well before the vaccination process was even started. At the very onset of the pandemic, they sent out all their commercial aircraft and got all the Israelites who wanted to come back, into the country without any hassle. Then they paid up-front for sufficient doses of the vaccine for the entire population. Following that, they instituted and enforced very strict public health measures like avoiding crowds, wearing masks, physical distancing and washing of hands. These were implemented to the letter. People were fined for violating the health guidelines. Even the top politicians, the rich and the powerful simply had to comply. Then only, and quite recently at that, they employed their vaccination programme where ALL adults over 18 years of age were virtually compulsorily vaccinated. Now they are reaping the benefits of all these measures. So, it is not ONLY the vaccine but a conglomeration of all these measures that helped the Israelites.
The second country is New Zealand. Their Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern imposed very strict health guidelines from the very outset. No holds were barred. In a landmark event, even the Prime Minister herself, and her partner, were refused entry to a restaurant because the place was full-up to the maximum allowed under her health guidelines. She did not throw her weight and accepted the decision of the restaurant management. Then they started their vaccination campaign. They are going well but so far are quite short of the 70 per cent coverage of the population. However, the strict health guidelines and lockdowns have managed to control the disease. It was statesmanship, perhaps we should call it ‘stateswomanship’, at its very best, with empathy and kindness, added as the icing, if at all it could be called a ‘cake’.
There is another consideration regarding the vaccine that is vitally important. We do not know for sure how effective the vaccines are against mutant strains of the virus. At the moment India is reeling under the onslaught of a new variant of the virus that is claimed to have a triple mutation in the new strain; a kind of three-in-one phenomenon. It certainly looks like a rather nasty type which is making people severely ill and killing many who are affected. India has not been able to vaccinate sufficient numbers as well. The current catastrophe in our immediate neighbour country probably implies that the violent spread of this deadly mutant is due to the general population completely disregarding the health guidelines.
Finally, the contention that vaccination is the only final solution may institute a state of complacency in those who are vaccinated in Sri Lanka. Besides, they have only had the first dose and their protection may not be all that complete. Although we have managed to vaccinate just under a million people, such an erroneous idea might induce the vaccinated people to run riot. As far as numbers go, and just as an example, even if 100,000 of those vaccinated go berserk, it would surely lead to further woes for the health authorities and the government. There is no room at all for complacency in our resplendent isle. Whatever anyone says, scholarly science dictates very clearly that vaccination is not the ONLY solution and the ancillary public health measures are as important. It would be best to admonish our populace, constantly and firmly; again, and again, to avoid crowds, wash their hands repeatedly, maintain a physical distance of at least one metre and wear masks properly, and for that matter, even double-mask, if at all possible. We cannot stress this any more than this. The responsibilities lie firmly at the doorsteps of our people.
Features
BRICS’ pushback against dollar domination sparks global economic standoff

If one were to look for a ‘rationale’ for the Trump administration’s current decision to significantly raise its tariffs on goods and services entering its shores from virtually the rest of the world, then, it is a recent statement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that one needs to scrutinize. He is quoted as saying that tariffs could return ‘to April levels, if countries fail to strike a deal with the US.’
In other words, countries are urged to negotiate better tariff rates with the US without further delay if they are not to be at the receiving end of the threatened new tariff regime and its disquieting conditions. An unemotional approach to the questions at hand is best.
It would be foolish on the part of the rest of the world to dismiss the Trump administration’s pronouncements on the tariff question as empty rhetoric. In this crisis there is what may be called a not so veiled invitation to the world to enter into discussions with the US urgently to iron out what the US sees as unfair trade terms. In the process perhaps mutually acceptable terms could be arrived at between the US and those countries with which it is presumably having costly trade deficits. The tariff crisis, therefore, should be approached as a situation that necessitates earnest, rational negotiations between the US and its trading partners for the resolving of outstanding issues.
Meanwhile, the crisis has brought more into the open simmering antagonisms between the US and predominantly Southern groupings, such as the BRICS. While the tariff matter figured with some urgency in the recent BRICS Summit in Brazil, it was all too clear that the biggest powers in the grouping were in an effort ‘to take the fight back to the US’ on trade, investment and connected issues that go to the heart of the struggle for global predominance between the East and the US. In this connection the term ‘West’ would need to be avoided currently because the US is no longer in complete agreement with its Western partners on issues of the first magnitude, such as the Middle East, trade tariffs and Ukraine.
Russian President Putin is in the forefront of the BRICS pushback against US dominance in the world economy. For instance, he is on record that intra-BRICS economic interactions should take place in national currencies increasingly. This applies in particular to trade and investment. Speaking up also for an ‘independent settlement and depository system’ within BRICS, Putin said that the creation of such a system would make ‘currency transactions faster, more efficient and safer’ among BRICS countries.
If the above and other intra-BRICS arrangements come to be implemented, the world’s dependence on the dollar would steadily shrink with a corresponding decrease in the power and influence of the US in world affairs.
The US’ current hurry to bring the world to the negotiating table on economic issues, such as the tariff question, is evidence that the US has been fully cognizant of emergent threats to its predominance. While it is in an effort to impress that it is ‘talking’ from a position of strength, it could very well be that it is fearful for its seemingly number one position on the world stage. Its present moves on the economic front suggest that it is in an all-out effort to keep its global dominance intact.
At this juncture it may be apt to observe that since ‘economics drives politics’, a less dollar dependent world could very well mark the beginning of the decline of the US as the world’s sole super power. One would not be exaggerating by stating that the tariff issue is a ‘pre-emptive’, strategic move of sorts by the US to remain in contention.
However, the ‘writing on the wall’ had been very manifest for the US and the West for quite a while. It is no longer revelatory that the global economic centre of gravity has been shifting from the West to the East.
Asian scholarship, in particular, has been profoundly cognizant of the trends. Just a few statistics on the Asian economic resurgence would prove the point. Parag Khanna in his notable work, ‘The Future is Asian’, for example, discloses the following: ‘Asia represents 50 percent of global GDP…It accounts for half of global economic growth. Asia produces and exports as well as imports and consumes more goods than any region.’
However, the US continues to be number one in the international power system currently and non-Western powers in particular would be erring badly if they presume that the economic health of the world and connected matters could be determined by them alone. Talks with the US would not only have to continue but would need to be conducted with the insight that neither the East nor the West would stand to gain by ignoring or glossing over the US presence.
To be sure, any US efforts to have only its way in the affairs of the world would need to be checked but as matters stand, the East and the South would need to enter into judicious negotiations with the US to meet their legitimate ends.
From the above viewpoint, it could be said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the most perceptive of Southern leaders at the BRICS Summit. On assuming chairmanship of the BRICS grouping, Modi said, among other things: ‘…During our chairmanship of BRICS, we will take this forum forward in the spirit of people-centricity and humanity first.’
People-centricity should indeed be the focus of BRICS and other such formations of predominantly the South, that have taken upon themselves to usher the wellbeing of people, as opposed to that of power elites and ruling classes.
East and West need to balance each other’s power but it all should be geared towards the wellbeing of ordinary people everywhere. The Cold War years continue to be instructive for the sole reason that the so-called ordinary people in the Western and Soviet camps gained nothing almost from the power jousts of the big powers involved. It is hoped that BRICS would grow steadily but not at the cost of democratic development.
Features
Familian Night of Elegance …

The UK branch of the Past Pupils Association of Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya went into action last month with their third grand event … ‘Familian Night of Elegance.’ And, according to reports coming my way, it was nothing short of a spectacular success.
This dazzling evening brought together over 350 guests who came to celebrate sisterhood, tradition, and the deep-rooted bonds shared by Familians around the world.
Describing the event to us, Inoka De Sliva, who was very much a part of the scene, said:

Inoka De Silva: With one of the exciting prizes – air ticket to Canada and back to the UK
“The highlight of the night was the performance by the legendary Corrine Almeida, specially flown in from Sri Lanka. Her soulful voice lit up the room, creating unforgettable memories for all who attended. She was backed by the sensational UK-based band Frontline, whose energy and musical excellence kept the crowd on their feet throughout the evening.”

Corrine
Almeida:
Created
unforgettable
memories
Inoka, who now resides in the UK, went on to say that the hosting duties were flawlessly handled by the ever popular DJ and compere Vasi Sachi, who brought his trademark style and charisma to the stage, while his curated DJ sets, during the breaks, added fun and a modern vibe to the atmosphere.

Mrs. Rajika Jesuthasan: President of the UK
branch of the Past Pupils Association of
Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya
(Pix by Mishtré Photography’s Trevon Simon
The event also featured stunning dance performances that captivated the audience and elevated the celebration with vibrant cultural flair and energy.
One of the most appreciated gestures of the evening was the beautiful satin saree given to every lady upon arrival … a thoughtful and elegant gift that made all feel special.
Guests were also treated to an impressive raffle draw with 20 fantastic prizes, including air tickets.
The Past Pupils Association of Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya, UK branch, was founded by Mrs. Rajika Jesuthasan née Rajakarier four years ago, with a clear mission: to bring Familians in the UK together under one roof, and to give back to their beloved alma mater.
As the curtain closed on another successful Familian celebration, guests left with hearts full, and spirits high, and already counting down the days until the next gathering.
Features
The perfect tone …

We all want to have flawless skin, yet most people believe that the only way to achieve that aesthetic is by using costly skin care products.
Getting that perfect skin is not that difficult, even for the busiest of us, with the help of simple face beauty tips at home.
Well, here are some essential ways that will give you the perfect tone without having to go anywhere.
* Ice Cubes to Tighten Skin:
Applying ice cubes to your skin is a fast and easy effective method that helps to reduce eye bags and pores, and makes the skin look fresh and beautiful. Using an ice cube on your face, as a remedy in the morning, helps to “revive” and prepare the skin.
* Oil Cleansing for Skin:
Use natural oils, like coconut oil or olive oil, to cleanse your skin. Oils can clean the face thoroughly, yet moisturise its surface, for they remove dirt and excess oil without destroying the skin’s natural barriers. All one has to do is pick a specific oil, rub it softly over their face, and then wipe it off, using a warm soak (cloth soaked in warm water). It is a very simple method for cleaning the face.
* Sugar Scrub:
Mix a tablespoon of sugar with honey, or olive oil, to make a gentle scrub. Apply it in soft, circular motions, on your face and wash it off after a minute. This helps hydrate your skin by eliminating dead skin cells, which is the primary purpose of the scrub.
* Rose Water Toner:
One natural toner that will soothe and hydrate your skin is rose water. Tightening pores, this water improves the general texture of your skin. This water may be applied gently to the face post-cleansing to provide a soothing and hydrating effect to your face.
* Aloe Vera:
It is well known that aloe vera does wonders for the skin. It will provide alleviation for the skin, because of its calming and moisturising effects. The application of aloe vera gel, in its pure form, to one’s skin is beneficial as it aids in moisturising each layer, prevents slight skin deformity, and also imparts a fresh and healthy look to the face. Before going to bed is the best time to apply aloe vera.
* Water:
Staying hydrated, by drinking plenty of water (06 to 08 cups or glasses a day), helps to flush toxins and its functions in detoxification of the body, and maintenance the youthfulness of the skin in one’s appearance.
-
Features4 days ago
One of the finest foreign ministers the nation missed
-
News4 days ago
Cheap alms bowls imports hit Sri Lanka makers, monks
-
News6 days ago
New KDU Medical Faculty admission policy challenged in Supreme Court
-
Features4 days ago
Going through Colombo Medical School
-
Latest News13 hours ago
Search for survivors after Houthis sink second Red Sea cargo ship in a week
-
Editorial6 days ago
‘Celebration of debt’ and harsh reality
-
Sports4 days ago
Liverpool team join family of Diogo Jota, brother for funeral in Portugal
-
News4 days ago
Nestlé Lanka inspires environmental awareness through nationwide schools art competition