OPENING up vaccination process for all people above 45 years of age is another good move by the Central Government as the age group covers a considerable strata of society. The 45-plus age group is the middle sector in the society and vulnerable to the virus because of the chances of co-morbidities like hypertension and diabetes. Vaccination to this group was extremely necessary as it covers a sizeable population to develop resistance against the virus. The second spike of COVID-19 registered in many cities has made it imperative for the Government to widen the scope of vaccination. The 45-plus group primary consists of people who are caretakers of the seniors as well as youngsters in families. Helping them develop antibodies for the virus is extremely important. They stand to benefit from early vaccination and now with the time window for the second dose extended to 4-8 weeks instead of the earlier 4-6 weeks, the middle-aged population stand at a distinct advantage of developing good immunity to fight the virus. The decision, however, entails early and enough production of vaccines.

 

THERE is something special about present-day cricketers making debut for the national team. Each one donning the India cap has brought something really special to the table, helping the team cross many barriers notwithstanding the conditions and complexion of matches. The Twenty20 series against England last week saw two debutants -- Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav -- making an immediate impact with their solid batting style. What stood out was their mental aptitude as they never looked like a newcomer. Now, in the One-Day series in Pune, England were in for further surprise as two more debutants -- Krunal Pandya and Prasidh Krishna -- effected a major turnaround in India’s fortunes. India’s victory was fashioned by Pandya’s cameo and Prasidh’s intelligent bowling. They looked the part of the game right from stepping into the field. The sudden spurt in youngsters coming to the party in a cavalier manner is a great positive for Indian cricket. Their mental energies looked absolutely well channeled. Never in the entire game any youngster seemed under pressure. A lot of credit goes to their grooming during the preparatory camps and exposure to competitive cricket.