Dear Rotary Leaders,
No other topic has occupied our mind space like the fear of Covid and the need to get vaccinated. However, even those who fear Covid in India have been lukewarm in their response when it comes to getting vaccinated.
The figures released by the Ministry of Health says that over 72.1 crore doses of vaccines have been administered so far and 17 crore people have been fully vaccinated. Only 12.5% of those who are eligible have been fully vaccinated and only 18% of the adults have been vaccinated in India as per the information uploaded in the websites. Worldwide about 29% of the population have been vaccinated fully and an estimated 564 crore doses have been given till now.
Various types of doubts have been expressed by those who have not taken the jab and nearly all these doubts stem from misinformation and the lack of will to find out the facts. For example, today when we are concentrating on the health of the mother and girl children, people have expressed concerns about the vaccines affecting the menstrual cycle in girls. It has been clarified that vaccines have no correlation with such cycles and this is what Rotary’s advocacy policy should focus on. Anns can play a vital role in this task. They should speak to women to get vaccinated and also advise them to bring their girl children, who are above 18 years, to the camps.
I must compliment Rotary Districts 3060, 3141, 3142 , 3201 ,3131 , 3250 and other districts who have shown considerable enthusiasm in organizing vaccination camps with the help of the local government and support from various corporates . It is the request of the Rotary India’s Covid Task Force and Rotary International that every Rotary District Governor should present a status report on how the clubs in their district have fared in this project. Nothing is more important than saving lives and putting our country back on the path of growth.
Advocacy is akin to teaching. It is not a professional service; it must be a passion. Only then education can move from imposition of facts to exploration of truth. Conflict about the need for vaccination is about one man’s belief versus another man’s belief. People use their mind as memory banks and the past beliefs keep repeating. Our job is to change the mind to be attentive and they will know everything that is worth knowing about vaccination and how they can save themselves and others in the community.Let’s us put our best to support the Government in its fight against Covid Pandemic and make india Covid free . I know we can do and I am sure we all will join hands to do it .