I am always appalled whenever a foreign government, publication, or person casts aspersion on India’s commitment to the well-being of its citizens. This tends to happen all the time, of course, which is why I find myself in a state of constant anger, ready to inform anyone willing to listen that the Indian government spends every waking moment worrying about how to make the lives of its citizens better. It may be impossible to back this statement with proof, but I insist on standing by it.

In all honesty, I also shout this out often because one can’t be too careful these days. If someone, somewhere, suspects one of not loving India enough, there’s no telling where that story may end. Some Indians find themselves in jail without trial for years, I’m told, and don’t get parole unless they are godmen convicted of rape. So, just to err on the side of caution, I wear my patriotism on my sleeve at all hours.

What angered me this time was a report published by a medical journal called The Lancet. I know it’s one of the oldest, most respected publications around, but I had to take issue with what it said about vaccines. According to the report in question, as of 2023, India was one among eight countries where more than half the unvaccinated children from around the world lived. The report went on to highlight what it called ‘persistent inequities’ regarding access to medical care.