Nishtha Shrestha

As we are preparing ourselves for the second wave of the pandemic, vaccination is a priority for all. There were doubts about the vaccines in the past few months but with the rising cases of infection, many people are seeking to get themselves vaccinated. As the news focused only on those receiving the second dose, there was a rush to find the places where first dose of vaccines were being administered to people. Amidst all this, pictures of crowds with no social distancing and long waiting periods circulated in the internet which calls for a look at the problems of management that can be avoided in the upcoming vaccine drives.
The first problem that needs to be addressed is easy access to the information about the places to be vaccinated. It appears that many found out about the vaccination through word of mouth rather than through official websites. When there is a fear of the new vaccine, no one would take the trouble to search as it is easier to convince oneself that there is no information.
Media plays a powerful role during times of crisis such as the earthquake and more recently the pandemic. Many social media influencers who got vaccinated posted pictures of themselves but failed to provide information about the places where people could go to receive the vaccine. Considering their number of followers, it would have helped if they had shared this information along with such posts. In the coming days, if the location of the vaccination drives is widely circulated on all platforms, we can at least avoid people missing out on vaccinations due to lack of information.
The next issue is the administration of the vaccine. In the places where vaccines are being given, it would be helpful if the guidelines for vaccination are shared in the form of banners as well as through loudspeakers for those who are illiterate. While the information about the age group receiving the vaccine was known, the groups that need to avoid it such as breastfeeding mothers, those on allergy medications, etc. were not known to all.
If this information was shared prior and during the vaccination, we can both prevent such people from standing in lines as well as reduce the possibility of these groups getting vaccinated due to the negligence of those providing the vaccine. Considering the time taken to create a vaccine card, it would also be helpful if more volunteers can be used for this purpose so that the waiting period is significantly reduced and we can avoid crowding in these places.
The responsibility also falls on those receiving the vaccine. It is not easy to manage crowds and more so when it concerns the safety of people. The limited volunteers are trying their best to provide the service and we can also do our part by maintaining social distancing, not cutting lines and throwing the litter such as cotton, food packets, water bottles, etc. in the dustbins. Everyone is yet to be vaccinated and till then following safety guidelines and trying to spread correct information would help to control the hidden effects of pandemic.