Vaccine compliance vital to rein in pandemic

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Vaccine compliance vital to rein in pandemic

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• Deadly reports: Reports show many villages evading vaccination, by hook or crook. Many leading lights too are refusing to take the jab. Fear of the Covid vaccine is quite rampant.
• What vaccination does: It is an effective and credible preventive measure to tackle the virus, and minimise the third wave's damage. Vaccine shortage may be temporary, but acceptance of vaccines by the common Indians must be high in rural and semi-urban areas. Nudging citizens using scientific facts and answering their queries is a must.
• Concern one - death: The fear that vaccination may kill is rampant. Of the 6.11 crore vaccinated till 27 March, 2021, only 176 deaths were reported. There is no causative link that connects these, directly. 

1. The AEFI has studies all these, and found that a miniscule no. of cases with clotting and bleeding after Covishield, were reported  (0.61 per million jabs) [AEFI - Adverse Events Following Immunisation]
2. Health Ministry has asked for all reports on adverse symptoms, and it's clear that given the destruction of the second wave, vaccination is quite beneficial.

• Concern two - not effective: Full protection from vaccines comes only after two weeks of the second dose. Exposure to virus is possible, and a very small percentage may get affected still. The disease, however, now remains asymptomatic or mild, and death was not the result. 
• Concern three - fertility is lost: This is a totally baseless misconception. Of those who did not take the vaccines, but got infected and recovered, some are showing erectile dysfunction. Vaccines can help avoid all this. 
• Minor side-effects: It is common to have pain and swelling at the site of injection, and fevers or chills with body ache, lethargy, etc. OTC medicines can tackle these easily.
• Gap between doses: It is an evolving debate, and change in the recommended gap is based on scientific studies. It holds for various vaccines.
• Summary: If the pandemic is to be ended, full vaccination of maximum population has to be done, and hesitancy and unfounded fears have no place at all. Third wave is arriving, and India has to fight. The vaccinated citizens become the invincible soldiers in this war against an invisible enemy.

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