Earth News Service
Jammu, May 22: A small message on Anuraha’s smartphone reads: Co-win: Winning over Covid. Covid-19 Vaccination Appointment Details. It says her center is Sainik Colony, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. Details of individuals that will get vaccinated has also been given. It mentions only her name in the relevant column. The message also tells her that she should carry her Aadhar Card as “Photo ID to carry’’. There are instructions at the bottom of the message, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first instruction is: 1. Don’t disclose booking Ref ID, the last four digits of Reference ID will be used as security pin during vaccination. 2. Please carry the Photo ID card mentioned in your appointment details for vaccination. 3. If you have any comorbidities, please carry a medical certificate with you for the vaccination appointment. 4. For any additional information, please visit our website https://cowin.gov.in or call Cowin helpline number 1075.
The date given on this Vaccination Appointment Details mentions her Preferred Time Slot as 10.00 AM to 11.00 AM. Accordingly, she got ready around 9.30 am and reached the centre located in Sector D before time, around 9.50 am. The centre was closed as the doctor looking after it had not arrived. A small crowd, consisting of barely 15 people, in small groups of twos or threes, stood dispersed over a large area, patiently waiting. A lone policeman kept vigil at the centre, hardly interacting with anyone, his main job being to tell them to follow social distancing norms. The lady doctor deployed at the vaccination centre, which is other designated Urban Health Centre (UHC) arrived on time and entered into her room, telling the policeman on duty: Aaj vaccine nahin lagegi kisi ko bhi.
A sudden surge of panic went through the people waiting with Aadhar cards, Driving Licenses and PAN cards, as photo identity cards, when the announcement was made brusquely. They clamoured to talk to the doctor who shooed away, apparently disinterested in conveying or saying anything beyond what she had already said. That was it. For everybody registered for the day to get their vaccination shot. The very same App which had sent the Vaccination Appointment Details could have perhaps been used to convey what next to the registered people on their respective mobile phones. One person pointed out that the lockdown is in force and the only hours in which normal movement is allowed ranges from 6 am to 10 am.
There was no need for anyone registered already to step out of their homes if they had been conveyed the unavailability of the vaccine, he pointed out. Corporator Narinder Jamwal, when contacted, said there were some hiccups in the vaccination schedules and he was trying to sort out issues. The vaccine will become available in a couple of days and arrangements are being made at a private school nearby which has large premises, he said. The large area can be utilised for accommodating a good number of people who can easily maintain social distancing norms. He, however, did not say on what day the vaccine will become available and what will be the new norms for getting vaccinated for those already registered.
This is the long and short story of one of the persons who got duly registered over 10 days ago, and was given May 20 as her lucky day. This proved to be a disappointment. The story is being repeated in thousands of centres spread across the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, and all across the country. The Facebook timelines of several political leaders are full of messages regarding Covid. One such message is: Safai bhi, dawai bhi, kadai bhi, Jeetenge Corona se ladai bhi!
May be, but that looks seriously doubtful with thousands of people duly registered for the vaccination not missing their jabs. And the gap for the second shot of Covishield increased from 4 to 6 weeks to 90 days by a stroke of pen. Is there more to it? Is a dearth of vaccines leading to such episodes? Or such gimmicks as one disappointed person who missed his first shot said.
