‘Corona is still out there, important to get the jab’

Rekha Das, head of anaesthesia at Acharya Harihara Regional Cancer Centre,

Cuttack

, was infected with

Covid

in September. On Tuesday, she took a dose of the

vaccine

. She shared her experience with Minati Singha
On AHRCC being a Covid-19 hotspot earlier last year
AHRCC is eastern India’s premier government-run cancer care centre. A large number of people from the different states come here for treatment. So when the virus was spreading rapidly, a large number of patients and health workers got infected.

On battling the virus as a Covid warrior
I was chairman of the

infection

control committee at AHRCC. We tightened enforcement of safety guidelines. Since a large number of patients depend on the hospital, we could not close it down. We continued treatment of patients and even surgeries. It was team work that helped us successfully contain the spread.

On contracting the virus herself
It is difficult to pinpoint the source of infection. But it was definitely from a patient. In the operation theatre, while administering anaesthesia, I had to come in close breathing contact of patients. My symptoms were neither very serious nor very mild. I took rest for 16-18 days and became fit again.

On vaccine hesitancy
Covid-19 has not been eliminated. More serious strains of the virus have been detected in the UK and other countries. So it is very important to take the vaccine so that we can stay safe. I would urge everyone to get vaccinated without any doubt or fear in their mind.

On severity of the infection
A: The COvid-19 infection in me was neither very serious nor very mild, it was in moderate degree.


On fear factor
Vaccine doesn’t scare me If it would have scared us we could not be able to take up so much awareness activities and continued our work.