As we know the world is under the clutches of merciless COVID-19 and the mankind is struggling to find a way to eradicate the deadly virus. Amid this critical stage it is worth remembering about the famous bacteriologist Waldemar Haffkine and his contributions to the world, especially the vaccine against bubonic plague in 1893.
Haffkine, who was a Russian, spent 22 years of his life in India where he conducted research for the bubonic plague vaccine in Room 000 of the state-run Grant Medical College and Sir J J Hospital building.
The vaccine saved millions of lives and benefitted the entire mankind.He also has to his credit a vaccine against cholera.
The J J Hospital room where Haffkine invented the vaccine against plague now serves as lecture hall of pharmacology for the second year MBBS students. J J Hospital’s resident medical officer Dr Rewat Kaninde said that he feels proud to have studied in the room where Haffkine developed the plague vaccine, not only Indians, but the world also owes Haffkine a lot.He added.The Grant Medical College is going to observe its 175th foundation day in May this year.
At present India is under lockdown to prevent the spread of deadly coronavirus.Govt has directed all the countrymen to stay home and maintain the social distancing to fight against the virus.
