On May 8, 2021 in an editorial, globally renowned medical journal The Lancet expressed the following
“The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that India will see a staggering 1 million deaths from COVID-19 by Aug 1. If that outcome were to happen, Modi’s Government would be responsible for presiding over a self-inflicted national catastrophe.”
The editorial further goes on to scathingly attack India and its fight agains the COVID-19 pandemic saying that: India squandered its early successes in controlling COVID-19. Until April, the government’s COVID-19 taskforce had not met in months. The consequences of that decision are clear before us, and India must now restructure its response while the crisis rages. The success of that effort will depend on the government owning up to its mistakes, providing responsible leadership and transparency, and implementing a public health response that has science at its heart.
It is August 1st 2021 today, India’s COVID-19 cases stand at 31,655,824, deaths at 424,384 and recoveries at 30,820,521 cases.
Intriguingly the editorial lambasts the Indian government over religious festivals. It said:
Despite warnings about the risks of superspreader events, the government allowed religious festivals to go ahead, drawing millions of people from around the country, along with huge political rallies—conspicuous for their lack of COVID-19 mitigation measures. The message that COVID-19 was essentially over also slowed the start of India’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which has vaccinated less than 2% of the population. At the federal level, India’s vaccination plan soon fell apart. The government abruptly shifted course without discussing the change in policy with states, expanding vaccination to everyone older than 18 years, draining supplies, and creating mass confusion and a market for vaccine doses in which states and hospital systems competed.
TheLancetThe editorial further expressed, “Local governments have begun taking disease- containment measures, but the federal government has an essential role in explaining to the public the necessity of masking, social distancing, halting mass gatherings, voluntary quarantine, and testing. Modi’s actions in attempting to stifle criticism and open discussion during the crisis are inexcusable.”
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed the landmark of 47 Cr yesterday. Cumulatively,47,02,98,596 vaccine doses have been administered through 55,71,565sessions, as per the provisional report till 8 am today. 60,15,842 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.
These include:
| HCWs | 1st Dose | 1,03,10,569 |
| 2nd Dose | 78,48,198 | |
| FLWs | 1st Dose | 1,79,76,013 |
| 2nd Dose | 1,13,28,258 | |
| Age Group 18-44 years | 1st Dose | 15,61,40,811 |
| 2nd Dose | 86,68,370 | |
| Age Group 45-59 years | 1st Dose | 10,63,39,854 |
| 2nd Dose | 3,91,28,126 | |
| Over 60 years | 1st Dose | 7,60,38,913 |
| 2nd Dose | 3,65,19,484 | |
| Total | 47,02,98,596 | |
The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination has commenced from 21st June, 2021. The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country.
Out of the people infected since the beginning of the pandemic, 3,08,20,521 people have already recovered from COVID-19 and 39,258 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours. This constitutes an overall recovery rate of 97.36%.
Now The Lancet is not a beacon of credibility or virtue, even though it a considered a voice of the medical community and medical research.
Let me put forth the investigations of The Guardian over the HCQ Conundrum:
A medical research report in The Lancet, led the World Health Organisation (WHO) dropped hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) from its global study into COVID-19 treatments. But, then WHO did a rethink and has decided to resume the HCQ arm of solidarity trial.
This shocking truth revealed in the investigations of The Guardian is that US firm whose study The Lancet published and WHO relied to drop HCQ from its global study into COVID-19 treatments has a handful of who employees who had little or no scientific training. One of its employee is a science fiction writer and another an adult content model.
The Chicago-based company Surgisphere owned a questionable database that had been used for studies published in the The Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine.
“We are issuing an Expression of Concern to alert readers to the fact that serious scientific questions have been brought to our attention. We will update this notice as soon as we have further information,” said a statement issued by The Lancet after questions were raised over the report.
The Guardian investigations revealed:
- A search of publicly available material suggests several of Surgisphere’s employees have little or no data or scientific background. An employee listed as a science editor appears to be a science fiction author and fantasy artist. Another employee listed as a marketing executive is an adult model and events hostess.
- The company’s LinkedIn page has fewer than 100 followers and last week listed just six employees. This was changed to three employees as of Wednesday.
- While Surgisphere claims to run one of the largest and fastest hospital databases in the world, it has almost no online presence. Its Twitter handle has fewer than 170 followers, with no posts between October 2017 and March 2020.
- Until Monday, the “get in touch” link on Surgisphere’s homepage redirected to a WordPress template for a cryptocurrency website, raising questions about how hospitals could easily contact the company to join its database.
- Desai has been named in three medical malpractice suits, unrelated to the Surgisphere database. In an interview with the Scientist, Desai previously described the allegations as “unfounded”.
- In 2008, Desai launched a crowdfunding campaign on the website Indiegogo promoting a wearable “next generation human augmentation device that can help you achieve what you never thought was possible”. The device never came to fruition.
- Desai’s Wikipedia page has been deleted following questions about Surgisphere and his history, first raised in 2010.
The Guardian expose the unprofessional nature of the work of The Lancet and it complete lack of credibility on reports.
The resilient fight of Modi government against the COVID-19 pandemic puts question on the reason behind the biased editorial of The Lancet on May 8,2021. It is also raises a question on whether The Lancet is part of the Global Toolkit against India and against Modi’s government to create panic and a fear psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Let me show you some tweets of the Modi government hating journalists, movie personalities and politicians used The Lancet report to spread fear and attack the Indian government. Raising the question is The Lancet a part of the Anti-Modi toolkit.
India could see 1 million Covid-19 deaths by August 1, says Lancet. India has become the epicenter of the pandemic primarily because PM Modi refused to listen to experts. It would prove disastrous for Indians if he doesn't take this warning seriously! @drharshvardhan must resign!
— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) May 9, 2021
Lancet : The Institute for Health Metrics estimates that India will see a staggering 1 million deaths from COVID-19 by Aug 1. If that outcome were to happen, Modi's Government would be responsible for presiding over a self-inflicted national catastrophe. https://t.co/2Iie1e2ku2
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) May 8, 2021
Scary projection: India may witness 1 million COVID-19 deaths by Aug 1, says Lancet https://t.co/lb6KXDSh3O
— Vinod Sharma (@VinodSharmaView) May 8, 2021
India could see 1 million deaths due to Covid by August, The Lancet says
Fatima Khan @khanthefatima reports#ThePrintHealthhttps://t.co/pSkanT3IfX
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) May 8, 2021
“The Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation estimates that India will see a staggering 1 million deaths from COVID-19 by Aug 1. If that..happen(s), Modi's Government would be responsible for presiding over a self-inflicted national catastrophe..”
Scathing edit in the #Lancet pic.twitter.com/ITtsWQ7EOU— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) May 9, 2021
World’s top medical journal Lancet says Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation estimates that India will see a staggering 1 million deaths from COVID-19 by Aug 1. If that happens, Modi’s Government would be responsible for presiding over a self-inflicted national catastrophe!
— Jawhar Sircar (@jawharsircar) May 8, 2021
