People have been braving scorching sun and heavy rains to get vaccinated. Legions of people --young and old and from all walks of life -- are seen snaking in long lines at all vaccination centres. This is what it should be and bodes well for the control of the coronavirus pandemic. That said, great many people are still left unvaccinated. Will they, too, join the fray and get vaccinated should be next big question, for they will be responsible for the future course of the pandemic. When the Kathmandu Valley eased restrictions in the third week of June after nearly two months of lockdown like hibernation, the situation took no time to return to pre-pandemic days. No matter where one goes, crowds of people are seen everywhere. It seems as if people’s behaviour hardly changes. While the reported case these days are not severe enough to call for another round of restrictive measures, the emerging threat of new variant of the virus named ‘Delta’ has triggered new waves of lockdown in many countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and more.

This is a grim reminder signaling that time is not ripe for us to let our guard down. News outlets across the world are awash with the grim news that deadlier and more contagious variant of coronavirus is making inroads into newer places, putting great many people at risk of being infected. The implication is that the country can face devastating waves like before anytime. And remaining prepared for it is the only available option. One country after another has announced record infections – all attributed to the new variant. The disease is making a comeback, and the surge is rattling the relatively well-vaccinated countries like Japan and South Korea. Scientists are saying the variant is not necessarily more lethal than others but is far more transmissible. To think we will be spared will be an unforgivable mistake. So, there is no room for complacency. Nor is it a time to underestimate the gravity of the situation.

Recently, four million vaccines arrived in Nepal from China, and probably more are on the way. Before that, showing solidarity with our fight against the pandemic, the US supported us with 1.5 million doses of one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines. That has helped us alleviate the dire situation to considerable extent. Great many people are now excited to get their shots. Expectations that they will now get a chance to get vaccinated are running high. The government shouldn’t let them down. It should ensure that all required people are vaccinated, even if that means purchasing more vaccines.

Despite the pervasive infodemic coming in the way of vaccination drive, people’s enthusiasm for getting inoculated hasn’t suffered as previously thought. This should be taken as the triumph of science over blind beliefs. The lesson here is this: when the fact become undeniably clear, people will choose rationality over unproven ideas. It has become utterly undeniable that vaccination is the only way to rein in the pandemic. And more and more people are getting this point. Vaccination drive has now gathered sufficient steam, and is moving in the right direction. It should be unstoppable until the goal is met.