Sixty-three-year-old N C Alamedu, who got her first dose of vaccine against Covid-19 on the very first day it was opened for senior citizens, is hopeful of returning to her pre-Covid social life after the second dose in another two weeks. She decided to get the jab, as she plans to host and attend a few functions in April and May.
Alamedu, from Kovaipudur, was one of the 157 people who came to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) to get inoculated. While 124 of them were above 60 years, 33 of them were aged between 45 and 60 years. The oldest beneficiary was aged 89 years. It was also a day when most people preferred Covishield to Covaxin.
Other 24 government vaccination centres, including primary health centres and the ESI Hospital, didn’t see much crowd.
“I had tried registering on the Co-WIN app, but in vain,” said a beneficiary from a gated community at Chettipalayam. “Since private hospitals are yet to begin the drive, we had no other option but to throng the CMCH for the first dose.”
Savithri Ramakrishnan, a resident of Huzur Road, said, “My plan was to wait for a week, but my daughter called me up from abroad, asking me to get inoculated immediately.”
D Sasikala, 67, who took the first dose of vaccine on Monday, was relieved at the thought that she could move around more safely, attending functions and visiting malls, now.
None of the senior citizens seemed to be afraid to get inoculated. “We know the side effects of the vaccine. It is better to get vaccinated than getting infected with Covid-19,” said a beneficiary from Nana Nani Homes. “Whether we go out and travel or not, we just want to start feeling safe again,” said another beneficiary, who accompanied him. TNN