Telangana: In absence of clear info, free second Covid-19 dose hard to get for many

HYDERABAD: While on the one hand the state has been urging all to come forward and take the free second dose, many people, especially from the low-income group and the old, have been struggling to get it in absence of clear information on government-run camps, mobile vans or availability at designated centre.
The paid ones, however, are easily available in private hospitals.
Camps, mobile vans and even local health centres have been providing vaccination in the state, but many have missed the dates either due to lack of awareness on where and when it was being provided or inability to go on the specified date. The problem is acute for daily wagers and house helps while struggling to earn their daily bread. For them, it has become a difficult task to chase the second dose on app or even physically. The elderly living without family support are also in a similar situation.
Sushila Jadhav, a daily wager, said she ultimately had to opt for the paid dose fed up with running around government camps and mobile vans for the free dose. “My entire family missed the second dose when the camp was held in our area as we didn’t know. Later, we visited the vaccine centre twice, but could not get it. Recently, a mobile van was set up near our place, but it was late by the time we came to know about it,” Sushila said.
In some cases, people have had to make the rounds of hospitals and designated centres over a dozen times for the free second dose. “I stay in Malkajgiri. I have gone to the area hospital Malkajgiri and other centres more than a dozen times. One day, I was in queue for the second dose when a politician came with his men and all of us waiting for hours were driven away,” said PR Kumar, who finally managed to get a free dose a week back.
Health authorities said that the mobile van was meant to help people unable to go to designated centres and it has helped in improving the second dose drive. “There are still many missing the second dose. We will soon identify them and send messages to ensure that they take their doses on time. Delaying the second dose reduces the overall efficacy,” said an official from the state health department.