MLA Khashim dispels vaccination fear
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, July 18 2021:
In a striking stroke of serendipity, Chingai MLA Khashim Vashum who stepped up as an ambassador to bump off vaccine hesitancy among the local populace, received second dose of Covid vaccine from none other than his younger sister Shanti Vashum in Ukhrul town recently.
To ward off the prevailing public vaccine hesitancy, the MLA initiated a Covid Vaccine Awareness & Vaccination Drive in the township which was organised by the District Health Society, Ukhrul (DHSU) in coordination with the administration of ADC Ukhrul at the latter's campus on July 14 last.
MLA Khashim who is also the chairman of 45-Chingai Assembly Segment COVID-19 Awareness cum Enforcement Committee, volunteered to be the first person to take the jab of Covishield from his younger sister to open the day's proceedings, getting across a message that Covid vaccination is safe to protect oneself from the virulent disease.
It was the second dose of Covid vaccine for the MLA who had taken first dose of Covid vaccine in Imphal almost three months earlier on April 24 .
In a video of the awareness and vaccination event made available to The People's Chronicle, MLA Khashim called for the denizens of the district to have correct information and awareness of the Covid vaccine and suggested that getting oneself vaccinated against Covid-19 is a no-brainer.
He said that during the current pandemic time, he has been to almost all the villages in Chingai assembly constituency, monitoring the situation in the remote places.
"Health is a priority for myself since my younger days and in this pandemic time, health of the people has remained my utmost concern," he said, stressing on the need for vaccination in the fight against the virus.
Recalling his experience of taking first dose of the vaccine at 2nd MR site in Imphal, Khashim said that he along with his workers and security personnel had to stand in a serpentine queue and wait for their turns under the heat of the sun.
"Seeing the long queues at vaccination centres witnessed in other places like Imphal, I consider our people here are fortunate to have the special service of the medical department at the vaccination centres.
"It was truly a coincidence that sister Shanti administered the vaccine to her brother MLA," ADC Ukhrul CEO Polly Makan told TPC.
She said that sister Shanti was among the nurses assigned for vaccination on the day.
"He did not inform us of his coming, though he was intimated about the programme which was his original initiative.
Out of nowhere, he appeared minutes before the event started and stepped up to take the jab before everyone else," Polly Makan said.
According to Polly Makan, following after him, a total of 38 persons including heads of departments and staff including sanitary workers under the council availed the opportunity of free vaccination and took first dose of the vaccine during the camp.
Speaking for herself, Polly related that initially she was reluctant but with proper awareness, she and other staffers took the jab without any doubt.
She continued that the camp was an outcome of an interactive meeting of Assembly Segment COVID-19 Awareness cum Enforcement Committee 45-Chingai AC and its members and other stakeholders called by MLA Khashim Vashum at his residence July 2."During the meeting, our MLA suggested a COVID awareness cum vaccination camp for the UADC staffers to help encourage vaccination among the general public," she said.
"It's imperative to be aware and informed about this deadly disease," Polly added.
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