Make Vaccination Compulsory for Politicians
Throughout India, a Covaxin revolution is taking place under the leadership of the government. In addition to the distribution of the vaccine, politicians are trying to instill a sense of pride that Covaxin is a ‘Swadeshi’ vaccine. Undoubtedly, it is a matter of pride that the country has produced a vaccine in the face of the Coronavirus that battered the country. But, politicians more than experts are issuing statements about Covaxin. The Centre is spending crores of rupees for Covaxin. In such a situation, it is very important for Covaxin to prove its reliability. The vaccine is being distributed even as a controversy has emerged around the government’s approval for the Covaxin being manufactured by Bharat Biotech even before the third phase of testing could be completed. The government is still not been able to respond adequately to the various questions that doctors and experts have raised regarding the vaccine. Already, it is being reported in the media that Covaxin is causing adverse impact on many of those who have been vaccinated. But, the government that has denied this has clarified that only 0.18 per cent of the vaccinated have been adversely impacted. Of those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, only 0.1 per cent of people have reported fluctuations in their bodies. The Centre has claimed that among these, only 0.002 people have been admitted into hospitals. At the same time, the Centre has regretted that doctors, ayahs, and health workers are refusing to get vaccinated.
One aspect should be observed here. The victims of the coronavirus are upper middle class and upper-class people. While tuberculosis, malaria, and other such diseases targeted the poor and slum dwellers, the coronavirus targeted people belonging to higher classes. The coronavirus entered India through airports from Indians living in foreign countries or those engaged in businesses or having connections with foreign countries and did not haunt the poor. But the lockdown that was imposed to check the spread of the coronavirus had a drastic impact on the poor. The number of people of the lower strata whose lives were destroyed due to the lockdown is far more than the number of upper-class people impacted by the coronavirus. And people from the lowest strata of society never demanded the Centre for the vaccine but asked to be rescued from hunger. “We are not scared of the Coronavirus but are scared of hunger”, migrant labourers said repeatedly and publicly. Ironically, having announced that the vaccine against the coronavirus has been manufactured, the Centre also announced that ‘civic workers will be given priority.’ If the coronavirus was truly a deadly disease, civic workers would have been the first victims. When the entire country was in lockdown and stayed indoors at home, these civic workers were cleaning the streets and collecting garbage without any fear of contracting the disease. They never feared the coronavirus, neither did the virus affect them. No labour organization requested to be vaccinated on priority. In such a situation, the government’s objective in showing its love and prioritizing civic workers for vaccination is clear. The malafide intention of the government to choose civic workers to test the efficacy of the vaccine and stop its distribution if they faced any adverse impact is very clear.
It is being alleged that hundreds of women who volunteered during the pandemic are being forced to be part of the vaccination drive. In Chitradurga, a nurse who refused to be vaccinated was forced by Minister Sriramulu to take the vaccination saying ‘Please take the vaccination. If you hesitate, what about the others’? Sriramulu could have taken the vaccine and encouraged the others to do so. Many politicians have been affected by the coronavirus and politicians mingle with the public in large numbers. Politicians should therefore be vaccinated on priority. In other countries, leaders have been vaccinated first. But, in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet been vaccinated. Not just Modi, no other important leader has come forward to get vaccinated and inspire people. Does it not prove that the leaders who are recommending the vaccine do not have any trust on the efficacy of the vaccine? Moreover, a large number of doctors have refused to be vaccinated. The government has expressed its regret over this. When doctors are refusing the vaccine, how appropriate is it to force people to get vaccinated?
Within two days of the vaccine drive, more than 50 per cent of health workers of six central government hospitals in New Delhi refused to be administered the Bharat Biotech vaccine. Of the identified 1,250 vaccine beneficiaries, a total of 551 health workers reported for vaccination on January 16 and 18. This means only, 44.8 per cent of people have been vaccinated. Of the 81 hospitals in New Delhi, 75 hospitals are run jointly by the Delhi government and private sector. In these hospitals the Covishield vaccine that has been produced by Oxford-Astra Zeneca has been distributed.
India is now divided over the vaccine. One particular vaccine is being distributed for the poor and another for the rich. Until politicians and doctors openly and fearlessly get vaccinated, the common man should not be forced to take it. The government should also not mess with the lives of people only to gain political mileage.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
