oppn parties Focus On Administering The Second Dose

News Snippets

  • PM Modi says that if Congress is voted to power in Haryana, the state will face the same financial problems that Himachal is facing under the party's rule
  • Competition Commission of India has said that smartphone majors are colluding with e-commerce firms to exclusively launch products on their platforms in alleged breach of anti-trust laws
  • Supreme Court rules that delay in claiming compensation for land acquisition by the government is no excuse to deny it as it is the duty of the government to pay the compensation.
  • PM Modi said that terrorism was breathing its last in J&K
  • Conbgress has alleged that Sebi chief Madhabi Buch traded in listed securities and invested in China-focused funds during her tnure at the agency
  • India to sing $4bn Predator drone deal with US
  • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has disclosed that the opposition parties backed him as Prime Minister in place of Narendra Modi but he refused.
  • Noted economist Ajit Ranade removed as VC of Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics in Pune due to not fulfilling eligibility criteria related to teaching experience
  • Chess Olympiad: Arjun Erigaisi wins his fourth consecutive game
  • Asian Champions Trophy hockey- India beat Pakistan 2-1 in a tough match to remain unbeaten in the group stage. They will meet Korea in the semifinals
  • Davis Cup: S Balaji and R Ramanathan lose, India 0-2 down on first day
  • Delhi Police arrested Sangram Dass, said to be the kingpin of an inter-state new-born baby tafficking racket, from Kolkata after a 1500-km chase
  • NC leader Omar Abdullah alleged that the B|JP was forging secret deals with some regional parties and independents to form the government in J&K
  • Rajasthan Police has devised a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), as directed by the Rajasthan HC, to help married and live-in couples facing threats from families and others. It icludes helplines and safe houses
  • A 3-storey building collapsed in the busy Transport Nager area in Lucknow killing 8 and injuring 28 others
Junior doctors do not agree to meet Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee without live-streaming of meeting /////// CBI arrests ex-principal of R G Kar College Sandip Ghosh and OC of Tala PS in Kolkata, Abhijit Mondal' for destrcution of evidence in the rape-murder case
oppn parties
Focus On Administering The Second Dose

By Linus Garg
First publised on 2021-10-29 01:49:22

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.

It is distressing that more than 10cr people have missed their second Covid vaccine dose appointment in India. As it has been proved by tests the vaccines work optimally only after the second dose has been administered, India’s chances of achieving herd immunity will get reduced if such a large number of people do not take the second dose. Also, lately there has been talk of administering a booster dose to supplement the first two doses. If so many people refrain from taking the second dose, how will the booster dose be administered?

What has prompted these people from coming forward to take the first dose? Experts have given the usual reasons like vaccine hesitancy, misplaced fears of side effects or complacency due to incorrect belief that a single dose is enough could be the reasons for this omission. But it could also be due to the fact that when it was the time to take the second dose, the vaccine shortage made them make the rounds of vaccine centres without avail. This might have put them off. Also, some might have suffered serious adverse side effects from the first dose and are scared in taking the second. Then there is also the vile misinformation campaign being run by vested interests in numerous WhatsApp groups and over social media.

But whatever the reason, it puts them and the whole community under threat. Hence, the government must take steps to make them take the second dose without delay. It also needs to be found out that if the second dose will be effective if a long time has passed after they took the first dose. If not, these people will have to take both the doses again. The government must start an awareness campaign and also begin a disincentive process whereby those who are not fully vaccinated must not be allowed entry in public places. Although the protocol is in force in some places, checks are not done properly. This process has to be strictly implemented.