#WorldHealthDay: While frontline workers and those with comorbidities need it first, vaccines are a must for all age groups, say TV celebs

With the sudden rise in the number of Covid-19 cases and subsequent deaths across several stares in India, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the IMA (Indian Medical Association) have urged PM Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination drive, so that adults over 25 can also be vaccinated. Amidst the growing demand for administering Covid-19 vaccination for adults, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday stated that the vaccines will be administered to only those who need it and currently, it wasn’t possible to suddenly ramp up vaccination. On World Health Day today, with Maharashtra being the worst-hit state at present, we ask TV celebrities to share their views on this...

Honestly, it’s a ctach22 situation. Undoubtedly, the frontline workers, older people, and those with comorbidities certainly need the vaccine before anyone else but now it’s equally important for every adult over 18-30 to start getting the vaccines at the earliest. These people do form a major chunk of the workforce that travels for work. So we have to ensure that they feel safe and secure. Also, when we are talking about mass vaccination it’s a humongous number, which isn’t an easy task. So till that doesn’t fall in place we have to be extremely careful and follow all safety protocols.

While the frontline workers, senior citizens and those with comorbidities are getting vaccinated, it’s time that youngsters above 25 and even 18 must be vaccinated. The younger generation is stepping out often for jobs and studies and they are the bright future of our country. So, getting them vaccinated is equally important as they are equally vulnerable. Being a mom to two young sons in their early 20s, it scares me whenever they step out. It’s time we start making efforts to make the outside environment safer for youngsters so that they can make all of us proud without any fears or inhibitions. However, we must not forget that taking all the necessary precautions is equally important till things are under control.

I agree with the decision taken by the government about the current vaccine distribution scenario. However, our frontline workers and those working in the healthcare system must always be given first preference, because these are the people who are administering us with the vaccine. At the same time, we must start thinking about alternative plans so that adults of all age groups start vaccines given they are a big part of the workforce. I hope that our government will soon chalk out vaccine drive plans that are inclusive of all.

Ideally given the sudden rise in the number of cases across several states, giving the vaccine to adults over 25 would be great. However, the number we are talking about here is huge, so having that many frontline workers to administer the vaccine and logistics needed to produce these many vaccines also needs to be taken into consideration. I feel that people above 60 or 45 are those who need the vaccine at the moment than those above 25. Until then we must stay safe, wear our masks and follow social distancing at all costs.

With the sudden surge in the number of Covid-19 positive cases, we can’t ignore the vaccination drive for those above 25. These are the people who travel almost daily for work and are most vulnerable in the current scenario. Although the first stage of our vaccination drive was keeping in mind the frontline workers and older citizens with comorbidities, the second stage is inclusive for those above 45, so ideally the next stage should be for those above 18 or 25. Once that’s given a green signal, I will certainly get vaccinated.

Till now, the central and state governments have done a great job and looking at the sudden surge in cases, vaccination is the need of the hour. So we should now start looking at administering vaccines to people of all age groups. With so many young actors, crew and technicians from the Hindi TV industry testing Covid-19 positive almost daily, we must now start giving vaccines to the young. Although I’m not eligible under the present age groups to get a vaccine, once it is, I will surely get vaccinated.

People across all age groups must get vaccinated at the earliest as that’s one of the safest ways to keep the virus at bay. It’s great that the frontline workers and those with comorbidities are getting vaccinated first but none of us can gauge the extent to which the virus has its effect on an individual. With those above 45 are already getting vaccines, people above 25 should soon be eligible for taking the vaccines. I trust the ongoing vaccine drive process.

Charting out a vaccination drive plan for a population like ours and rolling out those plans successfully isn’t an easy task. The authorities are doing a good job. While many of us above 25 still await our chance we must follow all the safety protocols and try to keep everyone around us safe also. As young India, we must take care of ourselves, wear a mask and follow all safety protocols before and even after getting vaccinated.