In January 2020, when the first reports of the Corona virus began trickling in, little did we imagine that the entire world would be turned topsy turvy. One tiny virus has managed to change our way of life, our relationships with people, our livelihood and our priorities.
In March, 2020, the Govt. of India imposed a strict lockdown. It was a painful but necessary move to protect the lives of all Indians, and all of us have had to pay a price for it. As Prime Minister NarendraModi rightly said,” Jaan hai to Jahaan hai.”
One year later, mankind has bounced back with the development of the Covid Vaccine. This historical achievement shows what human beings can achieve when they work together for a common cause.
The Govt. of India is now faced with the monumental task of vaccinating over 1.3 billon people. It is a daunting task, unlike other vaccines which have been administered to specific segments of the population like children below 5 years. No government exercise, except the National Census, comes anywhere close to the scale of this imminent Covid Vaccination.
It was only fitting that Rotary’s leadership in India took the first step and offered its hand of partnership to the Government of India. I was then invited to take charge as Chairman, Rotary India’s Covid Vaccination Task Force. Further to meetings with officials from the Union Health Ministry and the Niti Aayog, we have now set up the Task Force, under the mentorship of RIPE Shekhar Mehta and PRIPs Raja Saboo and Kalyan Banerjee as advisor with 13 Zonal Coordinators covering Rotary Districts all over India.
The task ahead of us is threefold: 1) Create awareness of the Covid Vaccine 2) Overcome pockets of public resistance caused by misinformation 3) Provide logistical support where required.
I have written to all District Governors to nominate a District Coordinator- Covid Vaccination each, who will commit himself to working for this effort over 3 Rotary Years. I have also requested for information regarding Hospitals and Blood Banks run by Rotary Clubs, which could offer infrastructural support to the vaccination drive.
In the meanwhile I request all Rotary Clubs to reach out to the community through social media to promote the government’s efforts and also counter any misinformation or negative reports.
Let us all work together to ensure that every Indian can avail of the Covid vaccine, without fear or favour.
-PRID ASHOK MAHAJAN
Chairman, Rotary India’s Covid Vaccination Task Force