Editor,
Concerning the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination in the country, it is appropriate to say that India is a strange country where people may go to any extent for the sake of politics and religion. On one side, some leaders/people raise their concerns on so many COVID-related deaths, shortage of COVID vaccine, mismanagement by the Government etc. On the other side, they oppose vaccination by giving misleading statements to misguide innocent public/followers for their political and religious gains. Because of the deliberate creation of this unfortunate dilemma in public, despite sincere efforts by the Government, the overall vaccination drive to fight against COVID is not that efficient.
COVID-19 is not like other diseases of the heart, brain, kidney, etc., which remain localized to the affected person only. A COVID-affected person has the vulnerability to spread this in hundreds and thousands of persons in society. After vaccination, the possibility of COVID-19 infection is drastically reduced, thus, not only does the person protect himself/herself against COVID-19, but also helps to stop its possible spread in society. Thus, it is the individual’s primary responsibility to get vaccinated in public interest and stop the possible spread. Often people/leaders quote a negative example which may be one in a millions where because of various reasons, some side effects or other complications might have developed after vaccination. It should be clear to everyone that although all of us are human beings, individual physiological and immunological ability differs. Thus, these negative examples could be due to multiple factors and may not be associated with vaccination only. We should be optimistic and refer to the 99.99 percent of positive examples, increase public awareness, work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, and save the precious lives of our dear friends and relatives by getting ourselves vaccinated.
Yours etc.,
SB Prasad,
NEHU, Shillong
I support mandatory orders by DC
Editor,
The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills had issued an order that reads, “Any shop which has not completed vaccination of its staff will not be permitted to open from the June 24, 2021 onwards.” We need to ask ourselves why this order and what is the rationale.
It is over a year since the corona virus pandemic has afflicted humanity. We also learnt about mutation of the virus into new variants and strains. The virus is trans – borderless. It knows no religion nor politics. It is a great leveller because it knows neither rich nor poor. It knows no race or caste. The lockdown has changed our lives. Like the virus, normal life has mutated into a new normal life. Online life has become the normal life, yet we still cannot exist without offline life. Among the primary offline activity is functioning of shops and markets. Transition between that space means possible exposure to the virus .
Meanwhile our mindsets cannot continue to be in the pre corona virus mode or pre lockdown mode . One has to abide by certain SoPs like wearing a mask when one goes out of the house . Yes, it is a right to stay put in one’s own house. The same right gets regulated when one goes out of the house. So one should know when to draw a line between when one’s rights begin and where those rights end
Shops and markets are also public spaces. They are places where customers go to buy their necessities. They are not the private homes of shop owners. In my view mandatory vaccination of the staff in the shops should be part of the revised SoPs. The same should apply to customers. Vaccination certificates of staff can be displayed at the entry point. Customers do the same when they enter.
I also find it bizarre when people talk only about rights and never about duties. One’s right to refuse vaccination cannot be an infringement on somebody else’s rights. Such a person should not enter a public space like a shop. It is like a law applied against spitting in public because spitting spreads diseases.
To the anti-vaxxers -stop being selfish for a while and talk to the health workers who expose themselves day in and day out to the risks and dangers of the virus; to the families of victims of the virus and the Covid warrior who has to come out on top of the virus. They all have a right to life and free speech as much as the anti – vaxxers. Hear what they have to say .
I deeply appreciate church leaders like Rev Lyndan Syiem. He has come out with verses from the scriptures in support of the vaccination. And he is a Covid warrior himself, having fought the disease. In fact, the churches as institutions with a platform to influence should come out much more openly in support of the vaccination.
To the proliferating pressure groups, whose slogan is to save and protect the community, some of whom to be students, please look at the data. Today’s Shillong Times carried an article with data by Dr Sandra Albert and Dr Rajiv Sarkar about the effectiveness of vaccination. Instead it would protect the community if the pressure groups also join the campaign for vaccination. The community may have escaped the first and second wave, it may not be so in the third wave. And what is there left to protect after death?
Those who suffer most from the lockdown are the marginalized sections of society like the daily wage earners, poor labourers, small farmers etc ! So the pressure groups can speed up the process of lifting the lockdown through vaccination. TV visuals also show that countries where maximum vaccination has taken place, have done away with masks like in the US . Those who watch the Euro Cup, look at how the spectators are enjoying and cheering.
Therefore please stop opposing for opposition sake in the name of rights. There is a world in exercising rights. Equally, there is a world in exercise duties. One cannot get the best of both worlds. It also amounts to hypocrisy and opportunism The motto, “I cannot be safe if my neighbour is not safe,” would help the community as a whole.
Yours etc.,
Rudi Warjri,
Via email
Leaders gone AWOL
Editor,
These are tough times we are living in. Yes, the silver lining is finally upon us as we begin unlocking with all precautions and safety measures in place. The lockdown period has indeed got a few of us wondering what life will be like upon unlocking. The Covid pandemic is now a threat that will loom in the background for quite some time. While one appreciates all government’s efforts to curb and handle the crisis with the health and well being of the public in mind, it however seems that it is just one voice that is heard from the chorus of our leaders. Only one face that appears on the endless stream of news mediums, exhorting and leading us, that has got even the most sceptical observer listening and paying attention.
We know only too well how loud and sonorous our leaders (MLAs) can be. We need only go back to the recent assembly sessions, and how can we forget election time. Voices so loudly convincing, so passionately in love of public service and of public good! So it is a wonder that those same voices are not heard at a time like this. The public, I am sure, would like to hear from our elect. Where is their public service at this time? Is it only in delivering rations and impromptu photo sessions? How about them taking a stand and we hear from them instead? Or are they afraid that this might diminish their popularity if they stand against public opinion? The state is at an important cross-section. Is it right for our elected leaders to remain silent at this time and allow all of the public’s anger, aggression, questions to be vented towards that lone voice? A true leader is one who will fight for the good of the people regardless of public opinion. It takes a courageous leader to make the hard decisions.
Yours etc.,
K.Myrthong,
Via email