SETTING a good example, President Dr Arif Alvi and his wife, Samina Arif, got the COVID-19 vaccine jab at a vaccination centre in the federal capital’s Tarlai area on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, the President lauded the PTI government’s efforts to get the nation vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as its smart lockdown policy that, he said, helped Pakistan sustain itself economically.
The vaccination campaign has not picked up despite repeated calls by the national leadership due to rumours, misgivings and fears about side-effects of the newly developed vaccines.
To set the ball rolling, senior government officials around the world (including heads of state and government) volunteered themselves for vaccination to encourage people to get themselves vaccinated against the deadly virus.
In this backdrop, there was a demand that in Pakistan too the top leadership should take the lead to send a positive message to the general public and the President and his spouse has done well by doing so.
We are sure that the vaccination drive would now pick up momentum and the pace would accelerate if other government leaders also follow the good example of President Alvi.
It is also hoped that people would also listen to the appropriate advice of the President who asked citizens to go ahead with caution even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
As the situation stands today, there is no better option than following the SOPs strictly – wearing masks, washing hands and keeping distance in view of the third wave of the coronavirus.
There is also a renewed debate across the globe about the efficacy of the Oxford vaccine after a number of countries including Germany, France and Italy halted rollouts of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, after a series of incidents in Europe involving blood clots.
This aspect needs to be fully probed and kept in view while carrying forward the vaccination drive.
