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As a deadly second wave of COVID-19 ravaged India, the country opened up its vaccination programme to all adults on May 1. But supply shortages mean in some parts of the country, vaccination centres have temporarily shut and there are often no slots available for months on the app used to book an appointment.
“Some people joke that it’s easier to climb Mount Everest than getting a vaccine in India,” the economist R. Ramakumar explains in the latest episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast which looks at why the country’s rollout is faltering. He’s concerned about changes to the distribution and pricing system for the vaccines, which he worries could leave millions unvaccinated.
The rest of the world is now attempting to monitor the spread of the coronavirus variant called B1617, first identified in India, which was labelled a “variant of concern” earlier this week by the World Health Organization. In England, a rise in cases of the B16172 version of this variant is raising questions about whether to continue with a further easing of restrictions next week. Deborah Dunn-Waters explains why scientists are watching the situation very closely.
In parts of Lancashire, where cases of this variant are increasing, vaccine appointments are being opened up next week to everyone over 18. For those still hesitant about getting a jab, new research suggests that messaging which emphasises the personal, rather than collective benefits, works best at persuading them.
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Gemma Ware
Editor and Co-Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast
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A vaccination centre in Mumbai, closed due to lack of supplies in late April.
Divyakant Solanki/EPA
Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation
Plus, the hidden world of microscopic fungi found inside the world's biggest seed bank. Listen to episode 15 of The Conversation Weekly podcast.
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Andreas Prott/Alamy Stock Photo
Deborah Dunn-Walters, University of Surrey
There's still a lot we don't know about the latest variant of concern: B16172.
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Daniel Leal-Olivas/EPA-EFE
Daniel Freeman, University of Oxford
New research suggests hearing about the collective benefits of COVID-19 vaccines is unlikely to change people's minds, which contradicts previous findings.
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