COVER STORY
The Indian Air Force and Navy were deployed for oxygen transport. Global aid poured in.
The Third Wave and the Omicron Variant( 2021 – 2022):
The arrival of the Omicron variant in late 2021 triggered a third wave. Although highly infectious, Omicron was less deadly. Thanks to increased immunity from vaccinations and past infections, the health impact was milder compared to the Delta wave. Nevertheless, schools and offices again shut down, and mask mandates were reimposed.
Post-Pandemic Recovery( 2022 – 2024):
India’ s economy, which had contracted by over 7 % in 2020-21, began to rebound. Vaccination continued with booster doses rolled out for adults and children. Schools reopened, businesses adapted to hybrid models, and telemedicine and digital health saw a boom. The pandemic also catalyzed structural shifts: Healthcare infrastructure received increased investment. Digital health platforms like eSanjeevani and Aarogya Setu became mainstream. Make-in-India momentum in pharmaceuticals and vaccines grew stronger. Mental health awareness, though still stigmatized, gained visibility. India’ s role in the global vaccine supply chain was reaffirmed with SII and Bharat Biotech shipping millions of doses under the
" Vaccine Maitri " initiative to over 90 countries.
Legacy and Lessons:
India’ s COVID-19 journey was marked by pain, loss, resilience, and hope. It exposed deep cracks in healthcare equity, digital access, and crisis preparedness— but also revealed the nation’ s capacity for collective action and innovation. The haunting images of the second wave are etched into the nation ' s memory. Yet, so are the images of young volunteers delivering oxygen, scientists developing vaccines at record speed, and communities supporting one another through food, care, and solidarity. As India moves forward, the pandemic stands as both a cautionary tale and a call to reimagine public health, social welfare, and disaster resilience for a more equitable and prepared future.
Global status
As of early June 2025, the emergence and rapid spread of Omicron subvariants— particularly NB. 1.8.1— have triggered renewed COVID‐19 surges in several countries. In Europe and holiday destinations like Ireland, the strain now accounts for approximately one-third of infections, up from just 3.7 % five weeks prior. In parallel, coastal and island nations such as Egypt, the Maldives, and Thailand are reporting fresh waves of cases, with Thai authorities cautioning that holiday travel and the rainy
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BioVoiceNews | June 2025