- The vaccination drive underway reflects the classical case of so near yet so far syndrome observed on matters of great importance having wider ramifications. As the entire humanity faced unprecedented challenges to survive amidst the raging pandemic sweeping without an iota of resistance forthcoming, the race to develop an effective vaccine to combat the menace assumed far greater significance. Credit to the scientific community and the experts from the field, there are few vaccines already in use for vaccination across many countries, including India that kick-started the drive last week onwards.
PC: Altaf Qadri
- Unfortunately, the response for the inoculation drive undertaken by the authorities is not sending the right message or invoking intended confidence amongst the healthcare workers categorized to receive the vaccine in the first phase. Several doctors and nurses are believed to be apprehensive to get the jab for fear of falling sick or contracting illness. A couple of unrelated deaths reported amongst the healthcare workers soon after receiving the vaccine has only increased the trust deficit amongst the lot. Thus, vaccination drive kick-started with lots of pomp, gaiety, hope, and anticipation has suddenly appeared to be slowing down owing to the hesitancy factor.
- No wonder, the slow pace of vaccination in many states and non-show by scheduled recipients necessitates speeding up otherwise it may be several months before the priority groups are inoculated and the huge number of general populations qualifying will have to wait eternally. Note that any delays might raise the risks of virus mutations manifolds as well rendering the drive infructuous. To supplement the already approved vaccines, the authorities may consider granting automatic approvals to those vaccines approved in advanced jurisdictions such as Europe, the US, or the UK, respectively. This ensures in expanding the choice of vaccines available to a great extent.
PC: dnaindia
- Apart from unleashing information blitzkrieg assuaging the apprehensions surrounding the vaccine by the Central and State Governments coopting renowned experts/personalities about the safety aspects, increasing the channels by opening more vaccination centers would speed up the campaign as well. To counter vaccine hesitancy amongst the health workers as also scheduled frontline workers in the envisaged next stage, it is incumbent the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers should not delay anymore but to get their first jab in front of TV cameras to build confidence as well as boost greater urgency to the proceedings.
- Such a move would have a tremendous salutary effect for sure. Also, rather than insisting on inoculation through public channels alone for the purpose, it is advisable to involve the private healthcare sector too who evoke considerable faith from the people from trusted doctors as also expanding the choice and efficiency factor to speed up the process. Also, skewed sessions of vaccination undertaken by the states need to be corrected at once by increasing the channels. The Co-WIN app glitches, understandable for an operation so complex, should be addressed forthwith to preempt impediments to further scaling up of new centers.
