Covid-19 booster shot rollout: Senior citizens sceptical, relieved and confused

A senior citizen gets vaccinated at Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal General Hospital, Kandivli. File pic

As we wait for the Omicron tsunami to crest in India, the government has announced the booster dose of the vaccine for Covid-19 for senior citizens over-60, beginning January 10. Pervez Cooper, 62, said, "I would like to take the Covishield booster as I had taken two Covishield doses earlier. My son has recently moved to Australia and the booster may be mandatory, I do not know as yet, if I need to visit him, later. I do hope that it is efficacious in fighting this virus." For Mahrukh Irani, 79, the avalanche of opinions and information is confusing to say the least. "I will go with the flow, I think. I will do what my family tells me, as per their advice," she stated.

Availability constraints

Gajanan Joshi, who has just turned 60, stated, "The booster is important, but I must say that we, by which I mean in India, are not looking at things scientifically. Our vaccine policy is not a fully scientific one, but mixed with a compelling one. By that I mean, it is based on demand and supply of vaccines, the supply chain. For instance, the huge gap between the first and second vaccination dose was because of availability constraints. I had heard Dr Cyrus Poonawalla speak somewhere that there should not be such a large gap between the first and second dose. In the same way, boosters are now rolling out by January 10. That is okay I guess, but I hope we do not have any extensions and delays. We need to be guided by science and not by administrative constraints. If we have any such constraints, then we must focus on the same, including the supply chain, overcome those constraints and ensure that the booster doses are done, without any excuses."

No idiots

Shivaji Park's Ravindra Waghmare, 64, is unequivocal. He said, "Of course, I am going to be heading for the booster. Top scientists and doctors and people in the government are not fools to, first of all, roll out the booster and then, secondly, advise on taking it. If I knew so much, I would have been a top doctor or heading the government!" Safety is key for Dadar's S Rajadhyax, who stated, "I go through all the information and I am wondering how effective this booster dose will be against the Omicron variant. I am waiting for the doctors on the experts panel of the government to state that the booster dose is absolutely safe, for more reassurance."

Some questions

Niggling doubts need a complete rout, it is evident as question marks hang in the air, for many. Aftab Ali, 64, from Kalina said, "I just think at times that when the vaccinations were announced there was nothing said about a booster dose. At that time, it was said that two vaccines would be enough. Now, we are being told that we need a booster. So, is this booster going to be an annual jab? How many boosters are going to be announced? These are just some thoughts going through my head." Ali also said, "I think maybe the booster should be given to persons with significant comorbidities. Should it be given to others too? I am unsure." Ali though said, "There are certainly no objections to the booster. I am a traveller too; I love to travel for pleasure. So, I guess in the near future, if a booster is mandated for travel, I will take it."