- Now that the vaccination drive has been extended to people above 60 years and between 45 years and 59 years with comorbidities, the drive to inoculate has picked up pace from the first phase where there was hardly any enthusiasm exhibited by the healthcare and frontline workers identified for the purpose. Putting the younger people into shame, the senior citizens have shown remarkable zeal in receiving the much-needed vaccine shot by flocking to the designated hospitals in greater numbers. Belying their advanced age and difficulty in mobility, the older people are indeed setting an example worthy of following by all eligible lot.
PC: ISH News
- Unfortunately, the technical glitches surrounding the Co-WIN app that was expected to facilitate a smooth vaccination drive are grossly hindering the flow. It is bemusing to note ever since the drive commenced in January, difficulties encountered by the general public as regards the app persists though officials continue to voice support insisting on the efficacy of the system. However, attributing the glitches to ignorance/awareness of the public will not cut ice anymore. There is an urgent need to ensure the enthusiasm displayed by the people is suitably complemented by the authorities by fixing the issues with the app without any further delay.
- Further, the authorities have initiated few welcoming measures by coopting private healthcare players as well as increasing the sessions to accommodate larger numbers but in a densely populated country like ours, it is proving to be insufficient to deliver quality service. Even though the government has allowed vaccination drives to be carried out 24/7 to reach out to the maximum extent possible, registration processes involved are proving to be quite cumbersome and tedious for the aged. Another issue that is bogging the campaign is challenges faced by the eligible after registering to have to wait for too long raising concerns of crowding.
PC: economic times
- Therefore, there is a case for coopting a greater number of private healthcare facilities on the lines of polio vaccination drive to reach out to eligible beneficiaries. As suggested by one of the epidemiologists on the State Technical Advisory Committee, the process of registration should be further eased by allowing walk-ins with authorized identification documents enabling speedy coverage. Understandably, it is quite natural to witness the initial rush to get vaccinated but crowding too needs to be avoided as the dangers of the virus lurking around cannot be ignored yet. Emphasizing easing of the campaign norms to accommodate a greater number should be the way forward.
- The government is already facing questions from some quarters as to why the pace of the vaccination drive is not hastening amid signs of lack of the desired urgency. Much publicized vaccine diplomacy delivering free shots to many countries though are welcome from a humanitarian grounds point of view, lack of similar alacrity in spreading the coverage to nook and corner of the country would place the government authorities in a piquant situation. Let us not take the foot off the pedal for the country’s economic growth is intricately linked to its populations getting protection from the virus.
