Corona Daily 085: Copycat

India’s vaccination drive is in a mess. At least 130 million Indians are waiting for their second dose; their appointments cancelled, and promises broken. The initial gap of 28 days between two doses was extended to 45 days, and now 84 days. Even while India didn’t have enough vaccines for 45+, it made them available for everyone above 18.   

 Today, the executive director of the Serum Institute, the world’s largest vaccine maker, said the government (euphemism for Modi) widened the vaccination drive without considering stock levels or the WHO guidelines.

I will try to offer a logical explanation for PM Modi’s actions.

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Last year, on 19 March, Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation asked Indians to applaud the doctors and nurses. On 22 March, everyone should come out of the house, clap, bang pots and pans, ring bells at 5 pm, for 5 minutes. It was a passionate speech. Modi is an orator and actor of a high caliber. If instead of politics, he had joined the film industry, both Bollywood and India would have greatly benefited.

Neither in his address nor Twitter was there any hint that something similar had been done before. Millions of Indians still believe this was Modi’s original initiative.

In Europe, Italy started with pots, accordions, songs and clapping. Paris followed. Before Modi suggested it, the idea was implemented in Wuhan, Istanbul, Atlanta, and Buenos Aires. Of course, Modi was not obliged to mention the other places. But it showed the man was capable of copy-pasting ideas without acknowledging their origin.

It is noteworthy that in all other places, even in Wuhan, the clapping and pot banging was done by the people spontaneously, no government was involved.

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On 27 March, 2020, the USA passed the CARES Act, a revolutionary stimulus bill that offered $2.2 trillion for the survival of Americans and the US economy during the pandemic. This unprecedented Act contributed to the development of vaccines.

On the same day, 27 March, 2020, India launched the PM CARES fund. There were certain differences. Before Trump’s signing the CARES act into a law, the US Congress had to debate and pass it. That is a lengthy, bureaucratic and inefficient process. Narendra Modi simply launched the fund, which was private, with no public debate before or scrutiny after. A narcissistic prefix was added to let Indians know who cares about them. America’s CARES act package was almost 70% of India’s GDP, it was impossible to match it. Instead, the PM CARES fund decided to collect money from the people. $400 million were collected.

Serum institute’s owner had asked for $10 billion. PM CARES allocated $14 million for vaccine development.

Most importantly, India managed to launch its own CARES on the same day as the USA. Since America first debated the bill, it gave Modi enough time to synchronise the date. Just like a smart copying student changes little bits here and there, the full form was altered. USA’s CARES stood for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security. Modi’s CARES meant Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations.

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There was no plan to vaccinate people younger than 45. But then on 11 March, Joe Biden made an announcement: As part of America’s war-time effort, he would make every adult (18+) in the US eligible for vaccination no later than 1 May.

Modi was busy addressing election rallies in front of record crowds. He hurriedly noted the news. At the first opportunity, back in office, he announced India would make every 18+ Indian eligible for vaccination from 1 May. Vaccine shortage didn’t matter. Once again, Modi managed to match America word for word, date for date.

If you think these are mere coincidences, remember Modi is fiercely competitive. In 2016, with shocking abruptness, he made 86% of the Indian currency illegal. He ensured the timing synchronized with the US presidential election. For the entire day, Indian TV channels were focused on the loss of currency rather than loss of Hillary.

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In academic institutions, the plagiarizing student gets disciplined. Here, Indians are being punished for copy-pasting by the man supposed to govern them.

Ravi