Partha Kar: The end of the tunnel, and the bumps on the way

At the start of this new year, even as we’re buffeted by the unwelcome news of a more infective strain of covid, it feels at times as if we’re nearing the end of a long tunnel, with light just around the corner. Vaccines are being approved, and the health service is ramping up systems to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected. The ongoing controversy around who is prioritised for covid vaccinations was probably to be expected, given all of the opinions, vested interests, politics, and stupidity surrounding discussion of the pandemic. The uproar is understandable given the inexplicable resistance to prioritising healthcare staff, especially in the face of a new variant. While we dithered, weighed up evidence, and debated, more healthcare professionals lost their lives. What’s surprised me is the reluctance of many organisations to highlight this issue …