The Pains for elders in Covid vaccine chaos

It is heart rending to read the agonizing experiences some citizens, including the feeble elderly, undergo at certain vaccination centres in their attempt to get the anti-Covid vaccine. The letters of three readers from Colombo and Kotte on 28th February, 1st March and 5th vividly narrate the different chaotic experiences they had undergone.

In the first letter, the exasperated elder, living in Torrington Ave area, on hearing from a three-wheeler driver that the vaccine was being given at a centre close-by, had hurriedly gone there in the morning to be told that the vaccines were over. He had then proceeded to the MOH office only to be turned away. On hearing that it was being given at the Public Library, he had proceeded there to be told to bring a chit from the PHI of his area, by which time he had been so exhausted that he had abandoned his mission and returned home.

The letter from a disappointed elder, in Kotte, refers to the long queue at noon-time, when hundreds who had been kicking their heels, braving the hot sun for several hours, had to go away disappointed; as not only the vaccine but even the forms to be filled, too were over.

The third letter mentions the chaos caused by a hand-written notice at the vaccination centre, in a piece of writing resembling a draft of a grade 5 child, which resulted in several Grama Sevaka niladharis being inundated with calls from anxious citizens, enquiring whether they come within the particular area referred to. The ill-written notice, except for the slight touch of humour provided; had caused enough chaos and misery to the residents of the area. The following morning the people, who had called over at the Centre, in a state of uncertainty, had been sent away by the MOH staff after they had been in the queue for several hours, stating that the vaccination was limited to residents of only one particular Grama Sevaka division. It appears that the MOH staff who had not answered the phone calls from the public had posted a message on Facebook regarding the vaccination programme; presumably thinking that the Facebook is a more accessible medium to average citizens. It is certainly a mis-calculation to assume that the majority of people are smartphone users with Facebook availability. An office-aide on a three-wheeler with a loudspeaker could have been much more effective to convey the desired message to all residents in the area, and avoided the chaos which had resulted.

Chaotic situations are inevitable when programmes are not properly planned and publicized. Imagine the plight of elderly, feeble citizens who come mostly on hearsay (due to the lack of public announcements made either through a local official, such as the Grama Sevaka niladhari, or through a mobile public address system) who after hours of waiting are told that either the vaccine is limited to an age group such as 30-60 or are told half-way through the programme that the vaccines are over. Cannot the officers who are aware of the vaccine stocks available at the beginning of the day, announce at the very commencement the number which could be treated; make a head-count of the numbers in the queue, and politely request the rest to go away without sweating further in the sun.

Varying announcements made almost daily by different Government agencies engaged in the administration of the Corona-19 vaccine, are not clear enough for the anxious public to be aware as to (a) whether the vaccine is administered to all adults over 30, (b) whether it is administered to only the 30-60 age group, (c) whether senior citizens over 60 are to be left out or are eligible, (d) where it would be administered (e) and when.

In such interviews, while one day it is announced that all citizens, irrespective of age will be administered the vaccine, the following day, another announcement is made that citizens over 60 years of age will receive priority. On the third day we are made to understand that only the 30-60 age group will be administered the vaccine. All these are casual statements which do not carry the authenticity of official notifications. Cannot all the Government Agencies, engaged in this exercise, agree for only one single spokesman to announce the decisions which they agree on, which are of relevance to the public, such as the categories to be vaccinated, the places, times, etc.

The senior citizens, standing in queues, in the hot sun, for their turn, as shown in pictures in the newspapers and TV channels, belong to the age-group heavily dependent on medical pills to counter multifarious ailments which accompany old age, and who are physically unable to wait excessively long periods in a place. Is our society, so uncivilized, or our facilities so limited, that those in charge of vaccination centres, either in hospitals or other places. cannot display some mercy, and provide a couple of long benches or a few plastic chairs at least to the frail, feeble over 70s and over 80s, the majority of whom are depending on walking sticks and crutches even to proceed a couple of steps. Cannot such aged people be identified, checking the age from the NIC, if necessary, and separated may be in small batches of around 10, make them to be seated under a shade and dealt with on a priority basis. The younger age groups, waiting in the queues, will not be that inhuman to protest on such an arrangement being made to these elders, many of whom may be of their parental and sometimes their grand-parental ages.

These are elementary measures which could eliminate the chaos prevalent at some vaccination centres, and bring immense relief to the harassed public. They are measures which can be decided by officials with even average intelligence.

P. WEERASEKERA