In the last two days, a very grim scenario was witnessed at a few of the 57 vaccination centres officially claimed to be functioning in Jammu city, that exposes the administration’s tall claims of carrying out a smooth vaccination campaign in J&K.
Long queues without keeping physical distance, single slip issuing windows, narrow corridors, congestions, hot & humid temperature without fan facility, lack of facilities for old and handicapped etc puts the official claims in poor light. A bad impression can easily be carried that for the district administration, the protection against the Covid-19 is the least priority and that the practical and health management aspects are missing in this drive thus exposing people to more risks and fearful relief.
Digital messages are delivered on the mobile phones of the individuals notifying the due date for the second dose of vaccination, slot booking not working is a common complaint. As a result, people are resorting to spot attempts that make the unregulated crowd at the vaccinated centres.
Not all are comfortable with finding out the crucial 4-numeral Reference Number over mobile phones and most of people have to avail the services of Cyber-cafes to get a printout of it, more difficult for people in the age group of 45 and above.
Some time back, the Administration has taken the undue credit by announcing that it will hold a household survey and would carry a door to door vaccination drive. In fact, a half-hearted and inconsistent community survey was undertaken at the Ward and Block levels but the said announcement remained on papers and on the print pages of newspapers. Not fair!
The door to door vaccination drive would have yielded better results and lessen the risk of Covid spread and the sanctity of SoPs was also maintained.
There are old, invalid, physically immobile, bedridden citizens spread over in the community who could get vaccinated. Further, a large section of the society does not have smartphones or may not be able to operate the relevant Apps to avail the facility of the first or second jab. Many may not withstand the physical and mental pressure inbuilt in the vaccination process and may leave the idea of protection against the Covid.
J&K has enough human resources employed in various departments who could have been engaged in door-to-door vaccination drive. If such a drive was carried with a proper focussed perspective, it would have covered cent per cent population, less inconvenience at the community, more protection from likely third Covid wave and achieved more.
