- After the initial reluctance, apprehensions, fears, scare, and general uneasiness to get inoculated long after the government authorities authorized emergency user approval for two of the vaccines in the country viz. Covishield and Covaxin, the pace of the drive has picked-up owing to concerted efforts of all concerned. Though the vaccination drive started on 16th January 2021 earmarking healthcare workers as the first set of vaccine receivers closely followed by frontline workers, lack of intent and urgency was evident when scores of earmarked categories of people failed to turn up to get inoculated.
PC: open access government
- Doctors and Nurses who were hailed for the way they rendered yeoman services to the nation going well beyond the call of duty also tended to be cagey about receiving the vaccine in the initial few days. As the statistics suggest, there is still a greater percentage of healthcare workers who are yet to receive vaccines which are voluntary as of now. However, the next stage allowing for people above 60 years and persons with comorbidities between the age of 45 and 59 years is turning out to be a gamechanger. The images of the Prime Minister himself receiving the Covaxin vaccine have given a huge fillip to the vaccine campaign as is reflected in the growing numbers.
- Call it the pandemic induced fatigue severely restricting the movements, lack of alternatives to socialize with friends and acquaintances, fear of getting infected, dissuading efforts of children and well-wishers, and unrestrained urgings to move on with the life has welcomingly altered the perceptions of senior citizens who are thronging to the hospitals to get inoculated in large numbers. Notwithstanding the technical glitch encountered with the Co-WIN app and long queues at the hospitals, the senior citizens exhibiting praiseworthy enthusiasm and zeal to receive the vaccine is not only refreshing but also setting a worthwhile example for the younger lot.
PC: Pankaj Upadhyay
- None of the apprehensions or lack of confidence in the indigenously developed vaccines are succeeding in halting the senior citizens from flocking to the hospitals. This augurs well for the campaign itself as severe lack of eagerness would have jeopardized the efforts of the Government in their endeavor to extend coverage to as many people as possible. Relaxing measures like allowing private hospitals to carry out the vaccine drive too have facilitated larger participation as people will feel more secure and confident to receive the life-saver from a known entity rather than forced to reach out to public health facilities which generally are despised by the majority.
- What has also altered the situation driving senior citizens to visit facilities is to see some of the renowned celebrities as well as popular personalities coming forward to receive the vaccine. Erstwhile perception associated with the vaccine is slowly dissipating for sure. Another reason also could be the rising surge seen in few pockets of the country as fears of a second wave of Covid-19 appears imminent. Thus, attaining maximum coverage within the next few months is distinctively possible. Aim and go for it!
