Dear Rotary Leaders,
Add Firepower to Vaccination Drive
Vaccination against Covid 19 hit a record pace in June 2021 and reached a peak of 6.44 million on June 26, 2021. We can say that in nearly all States in India, the advocacy for the vaccination programme provided by Rotary Clubs played a significant role in achieving the higher rates of immunisation. The States of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra showed considerable increase in vaccination. But only 6.3% of the country’s population has been fully vaccinated and over 29% have received at least one dose as of June 30, 2021. To vaccinate all adults by December 31, 2021 it is estimated that 8.4 million doses must be administered daily on an average from today.
I compliment the Rotary Clubs for taking the task of organizing camps for vaccination with enthusiasm and helping the Government to fight this pandemic. It is clear that only vaccination can help to fight Covid 19 immediately and reduce the number of cases all over the country. The areas which are relaxing lockdown regulations are reporting good vaccination coverage and so Rotarians should double their efforts now to prevent any other wave that is threatening us. I read that in a State in South India, tribal people climbed trees to avoid being vaccinated when the health workers reached their village in the forests! I am sure that they will have to come down sometime soon, but the point is that we have to find out why this vaccine hesitancy is still prevalent among people. It is in such cases that Rotary Clubs should put extra efforts, mobilse the opinion leaders of such communities and talk to them about the benefits of being vaccinated. Like in Polio eradication, I would like to draw a parallel that no one is safe until Covid is eradicated from our country.