‘Impact’ of Covid vaccine worries common citizens

PATNA: The relatively low turn-out of healthcare workers for

Covid-19

vaccination is raising questions in the minds of people, who are in line to get these shots after the essential workers get their shots. In the three-day vaccination so far, nearly 55% of the registered healthcare workers took the jab, while others either skipped or missed because of late information.

While healthcare workers are being given the vaccine in the first phase, frontline workers will be the next followed by those above 50 years or those below 50 but with comorbidity. After these preferred groups, common people will be given the vaccines. “But there is not much demand or craze for the vaccine as was expected. People are apprehensive and in a wait-and-watch mode,” said a health department official.

IMA state senior vice-president Dr Ajay Kumar said the educated lot was more worried than less educated or illiterate ones. “This is more in case of doctors who know the process of vaccination. Also, such apprehension in anyone is natural,” said Dr Ajay.

Another city-based physician Dr Diwakar Tejaswi said they were being frequently asked about the two vaccines. “There is doubt in the minds of people and they are asking doctors about the two vaccines. There is also confusion between the two vaccines — Covaxin and Covishield. The first is in the trial phase and its data for efficacy have not been tabled. However, it has been made of the killed virus and is safe.”

Common people apart from being apprehensive about the vaccines were also raising questions as to why healthcare workers were skipping this vaccination. A Bakarganj septuagenarian who did not want to be named said the same and added he will not be taking any risk.

Same was the response of a 20-year-old Aryan Raj who said he was afraid of repercussions post-vaccination.

Many people are waiting for others to take the vaccine first. One such person is 43-year-old Kadamkuan resident Uma Shankar. He said, “If others get immune after the vaccination, we will reach herd immunity and in such a situation I will be safe. Right now I am waiting for others to take the vaccine.”