Abrar A. Matoo
SRINAGAR, May 11: Amidst hike in covid-19 cases, people in Kashmir are appearing particularly anxious to get themselves, along with their ill and old, vaccinated against the novel Coronavirus.
However, various bumps are hitting the much-needed process of mass inoculation. “I had registered in the morning and had my first dose of Covaxin just now. I guess, I was either lucky or simply tech savvy enough to pull it through,” Mohammad Amir at PHC Batamaloo told Kashmir Despatch.
He added: “The Covin portal where you are supposed to register for vaccination is heavy, crowded, and often malfunctioning. There are websites and apps that promise to get you an appointment, but most of them; almost all of them, perpetrate frauds on people. Yet nevertheless, people are still resorting to trust these online sources, such is the kind of fray we are experiencing, and the height of desperation that is prevailing at the moment.”
In the past few days, PHC’s and other government healthcare outlets were seen hanging notices outside that read, “NO Vaccines Available”, yet many, who were scheduled to get vaccinated, received messages that informed them that their vaccinations have been done and their next appointment for the next dose of vaccine was scheduled on this particular date.
People are seen confused as to why it was happening, but according to insiders, people received these messages because their vaccines had been served to others allegedly for monetary and other considerations.
“As much as its needed, people are eager to get themselves vaccinated, because it relieves them from the anxiety that is prevailing all over the country at the moment. It is this very anxiety that has given impetus to backdoor interference,” a paramedic told Kashmir Despatch at PHC Chanapora, pleading anonymity.
Despite the authorities reiterating again and again that there are sufficient doses available, the facts and the situation on ground is contradicting the government stand point. The manufacturing capacity of the country is around 80 million, and at this pace, it’d take nearly mid-2022 to vaccinate the adult population of the country. However, given the current hike in covid cases, the demand for the vaccines has sky rocketed while the supply and manufacturing capacity has stayed the same.
“Covaxin vaccine is available with us. We have launched it as a pilot in two districts, and whoever wishes to get vaccinated is free to approach through a proper channel,” said Dr. Qazi Haroon, who overlooks the immunization mission in Kashmir (National Health Mission). However, DR Haroon did not confirm to Kashmir Despatch that there was an ample stock of Covishield vaccine available in the Kashmir valley.
However, despite tall claims from authorities, the nature of the current crisis has forced the wider masses to imagine that their government is bluffing them, and creating an atmosphere of false hope.
“The doctors and the paramedical staff are doing a great job, but the administrative part of the system is coming out as incompetent,” said Malik Mehraj, a journalist by profession told Kashmir Despatch.
