Ludhiana: After senior police and administration officers coming forward to take the vaccine shot in the second phase of vaccination that started on Tuesday, now the lower-rung officials in the district are also showing equal zeal to get themselves immunised against Covid-19. Those taking the jab on Friday included head constables, constables and some other Class IV employees.
Earlier, deputy commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma, commissioner of police Rakesh Agarwal and municipal commissioner Pradeep Sabharwal had taken the jab. Besides, some more senior-rank officers of the police commissionerate have also been inoculated in this phase.
Hari Ram, 50, a cook working with the Ludhiana police department, said, “I had contracted coronavirus in August 2020 and recovered later. Now that the vaccination drive has started, the senior officials are enquiring with everyone whether he wants to get the jab. I agreed and I took it on Thursday. Till now, I have not experienced any side effects.”
Asked why he did not wait for all senior officials to get vaccinated first, he said, “I did not feel the need to wait.”
Head constable Natha Singh, 49, who is attached to PCR, said, “I never contracted the virus. However, since the vaccination drive has started for the cops as well, I took the shot. Throughout the lockdown, the police personnel worked as frontline workers selflessly, without caring for their health. Even now, since some people are apprehensive about getting vaccinated, we should take the jab to set an example and dispel all misgivings about the vaccine in the minds of the people.” Natha Singh was inoculated on Friday.
Similarly, senior constable Sukhpal Kaur, 32, posted at Saanjh Kendra at Division No. 1 police station, also took the vaccine on Friday. She said, “I have my family at home, including a 5-year-old daughter. Since I am part of the police force, I am more vulnerable to contracting the infection, as we have to deal with the public. I got vaccinated so that I remain safe and do not carry the virus home.”
BOX
Policemen jabbed so far
Date — Vaccinated
Feb 3 — 30
Feb 4 — 400
Feb 5 — 376
BOX
Who took shots on Feb 5
ACPs — 4
Inspectors — 8
Sub-inspector — 12
Asst sub-inspector — 165
Head constable — 44
Constable — 127
Home guards — 4
Stenos — 2
Class-IV staff — 10