The low turnout of frontline workers at Margao for the vaccination drive on Monday and the below-average response in other centres is not only disappointing but hugely discouraging for a State which ranks in the top 5 among those with a high Covid-positive rate. Frontline workers are the ones directly exposed to the risks of the life-threatening virus and by any imagination it was expected they would rush in to immunize themselves. Only 35 turned out from the 200 enlisted in Margao centres. At the TB hospital, atop Monte Hill, just eight took the shot out of the 100 listed and in Panaji, it was 60 out of 100. Figures have been inconsistent right through with absenteeism being the highlight.
The vaccination may be voluntary, but when healthcare workers and frontline workers abstain from it there is seriously something wrong somewhere. The government has either failed to address the anxiety and hesitancy or there has been a terrible communication failure.
It’s a strange paradox that while India has exported its home-grown vaccines to other countries, State leaders have failed to convince the populace and dispel fears and effectively counter misleading information spread via social media. Prominent doctors and front line officers, including the South Goa Collector, have lately come forward to take the jab and this will send out positive signals, but there is no concerted effort seen on the ground to raise the level of awareness.
If minor ‘adverse reactions’ such as soreness at the point of the jab, minor swelling, mild fever, fatigue and aches are keeping healthcare workers at bay, what would be the state of the common man who is to take the shot all in good faith?
A sizeable chunk of healthcare workers and frontline workers have abstained from taking the shot, despite their names being registered via the CoWIN App, and there is no clue on whether those who have missed out can enroll themselves at a later stage. Also, with serious errors creeping up in the registration process, there is a question mark on how the State is going to proceed with the backlog once it opens up for the general public.
On Sunday, India’s inoculation process was in its 22nd day with those vaccinated crossing the 56 lakh mark in a total of 1,14548 sessions conducted across the nation. The directive to health secretaries of States is to analyse the variations in numbers and take steps to improve momentum and accelerate the coverage. The drive for senior citizens is scheduled to begin in March, and such a feeble response is certainly going to shake their confidence.
The State government has pushed back the municipal elections on the premise that it will affect the vaccination process, but no visible steps are being taken to help the process. Why hasn’t the State engaged the service of senior doctors and researchers to reach out to people and shoot down the adverse reactions of the vaccine?
The State administration must refocus and urgently address the issues at hand before reaching out to the common man.
