India prepares for another Covid surge but vaccine coverage is a problem

The Indian healthcare system's capacity to respond to the second wave was insufficient, as its preparedness - fearfully arranged during the first wave - had been rolled back

The first wave of COVID-19 in India – in the summer of 2020 – was efficiently flattened by a rapid country-wide lockdown. A consistent drop in case numbers from September 2020 to February 2021 allowed a cautious but smooth return to what was almost normal life.

But the ensuing second wave – starting in March 2021 – proved catastrophic, with over 400,000 cases reported each day during its peak. The virus spiralled out of control, mainly because of behavioural and political complacency. Large religious gatherings, election rallies and recreational socialising allowed the virus to take