COVID-19 is a global health crisis that continues to pose new challenges all around the world. Amidst the growing pandemic, a spike in the number of mucormycosis cases in India and Pakistan has been reported in COVID-19 patients and in those who have recovered from COVID-19. This increase in cases may be related to the overuse of steroids and zinc, the use of industrial oxygen, unsterilized medical equipment, frequent intubation, a weakened immune system, and pre-existing comorbidities such as diabetes. As a result, it is critical to take steps to handle the current increase in mucormycosis cases. Therefore, this article aims to highlight the existence of mucormycosis amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in India and Pakistan, focusing on possible causes and implications, and suggests important plans of action to be taken during this pandemic.

Background With large swathes of the world’s population—majority clustered in low- and middle-income countries—still yet to receive the minimum of two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine; The need to address the failures of international solidarity to equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines is now more urgent than ever to help curb the pandemic and prevent future variants. However, many high-income countries have adopted a “me first” approach, proceeding to offer COVID-19 booster doses to their entire populations, including those at least risk of severe illness, whilst the rest of the world is left unvaccinated or partially vaccinated with one dose for even their most vulnerable communities. Main body COVID-19 vaccine inequity places the health of the global population at risk and exacerbates socio-economic repercussions, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Initiatives launched to combat vaccine inequity such as the Fair Allocation Framework for the COVID-19 Vaccines (COVAX) have been unsuccessful as several governments, primarily from high-income countries, have scaled down their contributions to the initiative. Furthermore, COVAX has not seriously engaged with the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Health Systems Connector, as was originally intended, leading to crucial health systems components critical to vaccine delivery to be overlooked. Several strategies can be employed to help achieve the desired global immunization goals, such as Intellectual Property waivers, increased donations, and activation of new COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing hubs. In addition, continued advocacy for vaccine equity by all involved and affected stakeholders, as well as critical amendments to existing or upcoming legislation and funding mechanisms will help address the shortcomings of current inequitable vaccine distribution. Conclusions Global solidarity and collective action through pandemic governance mechanisms are urgently needed to ensure vaccine equity. These interventions are vital to rapidly mitigate ongoing health and humanitarian crises and ultimately curb the pandemic, sooner rather than later.

RT-PCR is considered to be the standard gold diagnostic test for detecting COVID-19 causing SARS-CoV-2. Recent reports and recent pieces of evidence from scientific literature, however, tell a different story. There have been speculations of SARS-CoV-2 escaping the RT-PCR because of the series of mutations it has gone through. It is possible that host-dependent RNA editing and high person-to-person transmission have equipped the virus with mutations enabling it to spread faster and even evade the RT-PCR. Added to this is burnout among healthcare workers and technicians handling the RT-PCR machines and sampling. All of these factors may be working in unison to result in the deluge of false-negative cases India is facing during the second COVID-19 wave. The mutant strains are spreading to other parts, posing challenges to the whole world. These circumstances warrant supplementary diagnostic tests such as serological and radiological findings to deal with cases of high clinical suspicion. Even one misdiagnosed COVID-19 patient poses a risk to hundreds of others in the vicinity. Healthcare workers’ burnout also has to be dealt with. Erroneous staff should be re-trained.

India is one of the worst‐hit nations by the COVID‐19 pandemic and witnessed a devastating impact across cities in the country. Although behavioral measures like wearing a face mask, maintaining social distance, and hand hygiene helped to control the spread of the disease initially, but a long‐term action by vaccinating the population is a promising solution. On 16 January 2021, India undertook the challenge to vaccinate 300 million people by August 2021 against COVID‐19, the largest vaccination campaign globally. India has been lauded by several prominent organizations around the world for its efforts. But catering to India's massive population is not without its own set of complex challenges. As of 29 July 2021, a mere 9.82 million (approximately 7.03 percent of the total Indian population) people have been fully vaccinated against COVID‐19 with the first and second dose, and only 352.5 million (roughly 25.28 percent of the total Indian population) have been partly vaccinated with the first dose. This shows, India's current COVID‐19 vaccination policies and plans are still inadequate and not undisputedly equitable even after several amendments in the guidelines. However, even with the second wave abating slowly and steadily in India, there is a need to further re‐strategize the current vaccination policy and plans in India against COVID‐19 to help achieve long‐term positive outcomes in the shortest feasible time frame hoping to evade a third wave.

Afghanistan, a country challenged by war and conflicts, has been in a state of turmoil for several years. The prolonged suffering has brought many challenges to the country’s inhabitants. Among these, food security is one important cause for concern. Food security occurs when people continuously have physical and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary requirements and food preferences for a functional and healthy life. Amid the pandemic, Afghanistan has witnessed a large increase in food shortages due to its dependence on neighboring countries. In light of current circumstances, food insecurity, coupled with political instability and the third wave of the COVID-19, have made it extremely hard for people to access daily provisions. Hence, people are left to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic with economic recession and poverty as the backdrop of the other health crises. To mitigate food security, international attempts are the required at this critical juncture. The aim of this article is to understand the causes leading to food insecurity and its implications in Afghanistan and to propose solutions that will improve the overall food security at the policy and implementation levels.