Looking for a Covid vaccine slot? Cross Kerala border

Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Even as the federal government claims that the state is way forward of different states in vaccinating the individuals, those that dwell within the border districts discover reserving a slot for vaccination in personal hospitals in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka is less complicated than trying to find a vaccination slot in Kerala. Okay Arun, 35, of Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram, who just lately took his first dose of vaccination from Chennai, stated the individuals who dwell within the border areas favor neighbouring districts in Tamil Nadu to get the vaccine as there isn’t any rush for paid doses within the neighbouring state.

In the state, the priorities for vaccination have modified of late. Even individuals above 45 years of age are in search of the mercy of native political leaders to get their first dose of vaccine. V Okay Girish, 52, of Thrissur stated he had been making an attempt for a vaccination slot for the previous couple of months. “I also knocked at the doors of ASHA workers and local politicians to get the dose as the nature of my work involves interacting with various kinds of people. Finally, I had to finally take a paid vaccine from Tamil Nadu when I visited there,” he stated.

“If you are desperate to get your jab today or tomorrow, taking a vaccine from the nearest private hospital across the state border is the best option,” he added. “I personally advise elderly people who have taken their first dose and are waiting for the second dose after the 84-day period to take the vaccine from across the state border as there is no serpentine queue or harrowing experience to get your slot,” stated Arun.

It is unhappy to notice that the state has been lagging behind in vaccination when put next with different states. “It has to be investigated why the state is lagging behind other states despite the people here being positive to taking their vaccine jabs since the second wave of Covid started,” stated IMA state secretary P Gopikumar.In addition, the priorities received skewed after the federal government determined to rope in native self-government physique members and others within the vaccination programme, he stated.

“If, earlier, elderly people or people with comorbidities and certain categories were chosen by health workers for vaccination, things have now taken a turn for the worse as local politicians have been given charge of spot registration. Their priority is not comorbidity or other factors, but their political and personal interest, which has hit the vaccination drive in Kerala badly,” he added.

According to the federal government assertion, as on Saturday, 1,83,89,973 individuals have been given vaccination to this point, together with first dose for 1,28,23,869 individuals and second dose for 55,66,104. Going by the 2011 census, 38.39% of the whole inhabitants have  acquired the primary dose and 16.66% the second dose. If we think about individuals aged above 18, 53.43% have acquired the primary dose and 23.19% the second dose.