Covaxin and Covishield : Centre's instruction
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 29, 2021 -

Covaxin and Covishield. The first manufactured by Serum Institute of India and the latter by Bharat Biotech Limited.

Over 20 lakh people have been vaccinated so far across the country and this is where it is disturbing to see that the Centre has deemed it fit to instruct all the State Governments to set up appropriate mechanisms to check spread of ill-informed rumours regarding the safety of the two COVID-19 vaccines.

That the Centre has deemed it necessary to issue such a directive to all the State Governments should underline the fact of how fast ill-informed rumours and loose talks can spread and while there is not much to suggest that such talks are doing the round in Manipur, it would do good for all to learn to zip their mouth on such a sensitive matter.

The two companies which have come out with the Covid vaccines raced against time and the vaccines have come to the people after all the necessary trials which must be stringent by any stretch of the imagination.

If one is reluctant to receive the vaccine for any reason, then they may do so, but not spread unfounded talks.

And it stands that unfounded talks, loose talks, rumours etc have this uncanny knack of spreading fast and people usually like to lap up such talks without applying their minds to the issue at hand.

The fact is, COVID-19 is a pandemic and the responsibility on everyone to not spread the virus should be clear.

It is not a case of just say Y getting infected, for the possibility of the virus spreading to all who come into contact with Y should be more than clear to all.

It is to rein in loose talks that Chief Minister N Biren, much before the Centre issued such a directive, made it clear that anyone found spreading unfounded talks about the vaccine would be dealt with under the provisions of the law.

In Manipur too the front line workers, especially health workers have started receiving the shots and it wouldn't be long before the second batch, those who are above 50 years of age and those with co-morbidities will line up to receive their shots.

In fact so serious is the matter, that all mobile networks carry a short message on the merits of the two vaccines and how even those who have received the vaccine shots need to continue to maintain Covid appropriate behaviour, such as wearing a face mask when out in the public, maintain social distancing and wash one's hand regularly with soap and water.

This is a direct acknowledgement that the fight against the virus is still far from over and the people will need to stick to Covid appropriate behaviour.

Apart from the arrival of the two vaccines, it is also encouraging to note that positive cases have seen a sharp drop in recent days, with only 10 such cases reported in the last 48 hours (January 27 report).

While the low count is definitely encouraging, it also stands that the sharp dip has come against earlier predictions that the virus will become more virulent in the winter.

A sure sign that science and man with all his knowledge is yet to fully understand how the virus behaves and this is what people, should be wary of. Continue observing the Covid appropriate behaviour.

Take the vaccine shot when one's turn comes.

The present lull may only be a prelude to another wave as the behaviour pattern of the virus is still yet to be understood fully.

Manipur cannot afford to let her guards down and the responsibility of everyone in ensuring this should not blow over the heads of anyone.

The responsibility lies with us, the public.