Were over 80% of Mumbai's recent Covid deaths preventable?
Yes. If those eligible had got vaccinated at the earliest.
Were over 80% of Mumbai's recent Covid deaths preventable?
(a) Of 156 deaths in past 10-days, 79% were aged 60+.
(b) Another 18% were aged 40-60, mostly with co-morbidities.
All of (a) and a decent % of (b) were eligible for vax since March 1.
AZ's (i.e. covishield) USA trial data indicates 70+% protection from serious complications and 100% protection from death, after 1st dose.
There was no paucity of shots or slots in Mumbai through March.
Above implies that 80-90% of recent deaths were preventable.
While I wouldn't blame government for personal irresponsibility, could more have been done to address vax hesitancy or inaccessibility? Can more be done now on a war footing, to save lives over next 30-days? Not just by government. Media? NGOs? Local politicians or community leaders? Anyone reading this in a position to do something?
Our vax targeting strategy is perfect (to prevent ~90% of deaths). But execution faltered. If feels like criminal negligence to have the means to prevent deaths but waste it. Especially when there's a second livelihood penalty on a different set of economically vulnerable due to ham-handed reaction to avoidable panic.
(As I write this, under 50% of Mumbai's elderly have been vaccinated)
Supporting reference: https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-confirms-protection-against-severe-disease-hospitalisation-and-death-in-the-primary-analysis-of-phase-iii-trials.html
On the execution front, why the clinics run by individual doctors or path labs have not been allowed? They are equipped anyway to administer invectives. This will increase the reach & avoid a possible crowding in hospitals. Thyrocare or Dr Lal will be ideal locations with their vast reach.