Drop in Demand for Inoculation Despite the Recent Covid Scare

The BF.7 and the XBB.1.5 are the newly discovered sub-variants of Covid. There has been a sudden spike in Covid cases as the state of Maharashtra has had patients contract the newly discovered sub-variants. The Indian government is taking necessary precautions in response to a spike in cases by issuing updated guidelines and stressing the importance of complete vaccination and compliance with Covid protocols.

However, the third precautionary shot has not been received by everyone. It is estimated that over six crore people have not taken the booster shot, which is available to anyone over the age of 18. Only 16 percent of those living in Mumbai who were eligible for the booster shot have taken it, as opposed to the 90 lakh residents who have not.

It is not a lack of vaccines that is driving this reluctance, but rather a lack of interest in vaccinations. Head of Patient Experience at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Palak Shukla, said, "Although it is a priority for healthcare and frontline workers to get the shot, it does not mean that citizens ignore the protocols and preventative measures. Since they believe it is unnecessary to spend money on the third dose, they are indifferent to its necessity."

An employee of Jagjivan Ram Hospital’s administration department, Dhanpal More, said that, "There is no shortage in the supply of the vaccines. Despite this, there are not enough people who come to the hospital for the booster shot." Some citizens have also expressed opposition to taking the booster shot due to religious beliefs. Further, the government has not put the same emphasis on the third dose as it did on the first and second doses.

Consequently, public and private hospitals have temporarily stopped vaccination drives due to a lack of patients. As an additional reason, this step has been taken because when a vial of vaccine is opened, it must vaccinate 10 patients. Vaccines sent by the central government are wasted when less than 10 doses are administered in a day. To encourage citizens to take the booster shot, the government must take steps to make the precautionary dose mandatory as well.