Random Shots..

 After a long gap, I took out my camera.. it had some issues, but after some cleaning, when I tried out some random shots, it came out quite ok. Not bad for such an old camera.. It has stood with me for quite some time now.. Canon SX50HS. 

Here are the shots..These are from my office which Sri Aurobindo Society located at No.11, St.Martin Street, Puducherry, India. 

Wonderful Wednesday...

 All days are beautiful.. be it the first day - Monday or a Sunday.. Every day is special, different, have a character of its own. Just happened to capture some random images today morning.. Water, flowers, colours etc. 

This is April and is COVID coming back again?

India has seen a considerable decline in Covid-19 cases, while the world is seeing another possible wave led by Omicron subvariant BA.2. Though there are recent reports of new Covid cases in Delhi and other cities and even three new cases in Puducherry, the general public is already asking "What? Covid? That's long gone".. 

At least in Puducherry, almost 80% of the people are already off the masks, and no social distancing or any other symptom of any precaution. Even the police on traffic duty are off the masks. The public meetings are common, with large crowds and no maks for almost 90% of the audience. 

But are we really out of danger?  Are our vaccination coverage good enough? Do children - most of whom are yet to be covered by vaccination out of danger?  We still do not know. Let us hope any new wave, even if it occurs, wont be like the second wave that ravaged across India in May 2021. 

(Image courtesy, the New Indian Express)

World Immunization Week 2022

 Every year the last week of April is observed as the Wold Immunization Week and so it starts today. 

World Immunization Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.

For this year, the main focus is Long life for All. This year, it is even more important because of the ongoing pandemic among the fear of a fourth wave of the Corona virus which started in 2019 and still ravaging across many parts of the world. At a time, when the cases became zero in Puducherry, today's update (25 April 2022) from Puducherry says, three new cases have been reported. We need to be more vigilant in preventing another wave. 

I see that the masks have disappeared except for a few here and there. 

Borrowing the words from WHO site https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week/world-immunization-week-2022, 

A Long Life for All is not a promise, it's an ambition. 

Because everyone deserves a chance at a fulfilling life.​

One where we're free to pursue happiness. ​

And look back without wondering "What if?". ​

Vaccines have been indiscriminately saving lives since 1796.

The first Smallpox immunization was a fight back against disease.

For the first time, it gave everyone a chance.

And hundreds of vaccines later,​

Across two and a quarter centuries.

Billions of people have lived longer lives.​

Grown up to become firefighters. Doctors. Musicians. ​

Fathers. Mothers. Brothers. Sisters.​

Vaccines might not get credit for that first kiss.

That winning goal.​

That special day.​

That final hug.

But their worth isn't just measured in doses given. ​

It's in minutes given back.​

And lives prolonged.​

Vaccines provide opportunity and hope for all of us to enjoy ​a more fulfilling life. ​

And that's something we should all be fighting for.​

Vaccines, in the pursuit of a long life well lived.​

#LongLifeforAll