Statistics released by the Directorate of Health Services show that 92 per cent of the people who died due to COVID-19 complications during the second wave of the pandemic had not been vaccinated against the virus. The numbers show that of the 2,563 COVID-19 deaths reported during the second wave in Goa, 2,359 persons had not taken even a single dose of the anti-COVID vaccine, while 185 patients who had taken the first dose died due to co-morbid conditions and 19 of the 17 who had taken both doses had major co-morbidities. Even a cursory glance at these statistics reveals that the vaccination has served in saving lives, as patients who had been inoculated did not reach the critical stage.
The message, therefore, that the Health Department is sending out via this data is that those who are not vaccinated against the Coronavirus are more at risk of dying due to COVID-19. It is also a call to all those who are yet to take the second dose to get the vaccination done. A major hurdle that has cropped up in the path of full vaccination is educating the people on the need to take both doses of the vaccine. Apparently, for several reasons, there are a number of people who though they have received the first dose, appear reluctant to take the second dose. As per the Health Department there are 2.15 lakh people who have taken the first dose but have not come forward for the second dose despite having completed the 84-day gap between doses.
The appeal going out from the government is for them to take the dose so that not only are they protected, but others, especially children who have not received the vaccine, are also protected. The strategy is that by vaccinating the adults, a safe environment is created for the children who are yet to be vaccinated. Children up to the age of 18 are not eligible to receive the vaccine, and it is only if the adults are fully vaccinated that the children can be safe. It cannot be overlooked that it has been predicted that the third wave of the pandemic, if it occurs, will affect children the most.
There are other reasons for Goa to be pushing the completion of the vaccination programme as quickly as possible. The State has already commenced tourism operations and even charter landings are expected in the coming month. The pandemic situation, while having subsided substantially in Goa and India, is far from being under control in some other countries, especially some that have been the largest markets for Goa tourism. Goa will also be hosting the International Film Festival of India next month and after that will come to the peak tourism week during which mega entertainment events are already being advertised. Goa has experienced how unrestricted tourism earlier this year led to the devastating second wave that killed over 2,000 people.
In the light of this, all pandemic precautions have to be taken to insulate the people from a possible third wave. Despite Goa’s high vaccination rate, the State still has much to do to protect itself from the virus. The threat of the virus has definitely ebbed but it still remains in the environment so there can be no complacency. Can the State risk the possibility of those not having taken the vaccine being susceptible to the virus that may be brought to the State by incoming travellers? The country’s daily positivity rate at 1.10 per cent and has been less than 2 per cent for the last 22 days. These statistics are encouraging but they should not lead people to the mistaken belief that they are safe.
