The Elderly Share Their Covid Vaccination Experience We The People
Hello and welcome India's ambitious campaign to vaccinate of vast population against COVID-19. And in the process cement also India's reputation as a manufacturer and innovator just moved into fifth gear. We are one week into protecting our most vulnerable. From the first of March, India began vaccinating those above 60 years of age and vulnerable groups with comorbidities aged about 45 estimated to be about 20% of India's 1.3 billion population. And tonight, we've put together a special way the people Dailyworldnews will bring you stories of senior citizens from around the country who have taken the vaccine. This week we've heard our most vulnerable share how doctors and medical staff went out of their way to handle them with care and tremendous kindness. From walkins to online registration seniors have found themselves welcomed and safeguarded at government and private hospitals across India. And it's a story of success story really that the world is watching the world will be watching. And tonight Let's reuse some first hand accounts from India's elders and pay tribute to the heroism and the commitment of our medical
workers.
On the show tonight first two women who need no introduction we have Nafisa Ali actor and re Simon Khanna former Indian newscaster the iconic voice behind the Delhi Metro Nafisa Ali, to you first, in the face, I think you're 64 you were diagnosed with stage three ovarian and peritoneal cancer in 2018. You were declared cancer free last year. And just as you were declared cancer free, you get a second lease of life, and then this pandemic strikes of the irony there. But let's see, Sally, did
you
have you taken the vaccine? What was your experience? What do you What did your doctors advise you, given your medical history?
Well, my doctors who are super specialists in the field, were very keen that I should take it because they themselves have taken it. To be very honest, there's a lot of doubt in the minds of people whether this is good for you or bad for you. But my doctors have assured me for the safety of life and a safer world. It needs to be done. So therefore, as I call it, I don't want to be the weak link, which is why I finally accepted and I took it a day before yesterday.
And I'm in go up so I was wondering where I should go because distances are so great. But I must say the GLAAD ministration has done a very fine job. Because in the little primary health care centres, they have set up COVID vaccination centres. So it's actually a very easy, seamless confidence building style of functioning that is there no lines, nothing. You just arrived at the primary sector, the cinema chair within 10 minutes, they call you inside. They take down your details.
They send you into the nursing chamber, and then they give you the inaugural vaccination and then you go to the doctor's room there. There are few more patients I mean, vaccinated elda sitting and you we all sit for half an hour after the doctor told me not to talk. But I was talking, I felt like I was in school. My teacher saying shoo, shoo. And then we are left with a little certificate. But there is one point I don't understand is why this certification should have the Prime Minister's photograph on it. I object to that, because we're doing it for the nation. We're not doing it for political PR.
As you said you didn't want to be the weak link. And that's why you have done that. So no VSA clearly the doctor, nobody can tell you to Shush. That's not going to happen. But you know, let me ask you being treated for cancer is extremely challenging. And doctors say that in a sense, you know, the only antidote, or the chance of recovery depends on a positive attitude and a fighting spirit. But a lot of that for a patient emerges from having a support structure, family, friends, loved ones around you, which really, you know, was restricted this this whole year and you talk about God because I have been overseers, grandparents, our loved ones have had to endure that this year.
It's been, you know, the elders have really deteriorated being almost prisoners in their home and circumstances. Because, uh, luckily for me, I had come to go up in December, when lockdown happened, I was here for a month and stayed, I've stayed and I'm still here in a year. I feel, I feel secure in the openness of how responsible I feel as a citizen and other people are here. But you know, as a as an elder, we need love and support. That is that is self. I mean, that's just so important. The world is suffering on this account. elders are pretty much left to themselves. And that is tragic for health and well being and positivity.
Because if you can't get out and you're sitting at home, I think in lockdown, it's in with no exercise, or motivation or nothing. It's it's a very tragic. I mean, I also went through it, because I was under treatment and medicine, my medicines ran out. Luckily for me, friends chipton and the army helped out. And this brought my medicines here, food ran out, because, you know, the as you know, the country was shut down in for us, correct the entire country. I mean, I don't know how we could have done that to our people. And even in where I live in the village and in vanilla, there was no food, everything shacks, shops, everything shut down.
It was actually a very tragic situation that we were all thrust under we I mean, this could have been done a little more with a little more grace and planning, so that the migrant population labourers people, travellers, state wise, our just put into a situation which was tragic, could have been avoided, I think. But now do we are over that.
And now we are in the vaccine stage? Yes,
there are plenty we are as you as you put it, encouraging people, it's the confidence building measure, and we need to come forward and not be the weak link, or you know, the kink in the chain. Thank you.
And ifisa really Simon Connor, you're a COVID survivor, you contracted COVID. This year, so so you have taken the vaccine, what is your your doctor said that you should take the vaccine even if you've had COVID?
Well, I don't know about the doctors. But Sarah, as you mentioned, I had the COVID in November of last year. And it was very tough, and I had home quarantined. I did not go to the hospital. And I did my recuperation at home. And it was very tough. It was very tough to survive that I had a mild case. But I had the good fortune of sharing that experience with my brother, who lives in Italy and the entire family had contracted COVID in March of 2020. And so you know, I was able to learn from their experience and do the cure at home and get myself out of COVID having survived COVID I understand today how important it is for you to get your vaccination. So I you know, for all those people who are doubters and who are sitting on a fence wondering, should we get the vaccine is the vaccine effective, etc. I think you need to stop doing that. Just get yourself the vaccine because you need to be protected. And right now you have no protection, the way that this disease has, you know, kind of spread all over the world. It's it's just impossible for you to be able to protect yourself. You could be sitting at home and get the COVID You don't have to go anywhere. Sure, the many people who've been very strictly following the, you know, slps and precautions and staying at home and they've still managed somehow to contract it. But really Simon you.
Also your parents also got vaccinated your father joins us Wing Commander Samuel Simon, Wing Commander Simon, how was your vaccine your experience with taking the vaccine?
Sarah, I had booked with a hospital nearby me I stay in Sector 61 Noida and when I found that the hospital nearby me were a very close friend of mine. Colonel. Satish is a doctor. So I decided to book there and we went to my office, booked it for me an appointment and we went there.
We had when we reached there we had a little problem because there were so much of crowd there and a lot of overbooking. The founder too We that we are overbooked, and there are a lot of people in front of you. But since Satish told me that he has also taken care of it, and I am registered, so I just conducted that person and fortunately my son came along with me because maybe my wife needs a wheelchair if you have to move around. So my son came along and he did all the paperwork there's a lot of running around required for this maybe in the initial stages it will get sorted out later but not running around and that this hospital is in two level one is on the first floor on is the basement the vaccination is taking place in the basement so we have to go up to pay God to do this and all that but Ronnie did all that running around and fortunately Satish has come in as great help the once we conducted that boy, he said Sir, it is not for you. These weight
hurdles that you faced on the ground and this will all have to be worked out simple things like you're saying maybe have them on the same floor where senior citizens don't have to go up and down or get into a left where you know in your clothes, space touching buttons, etc. You said so Ma'am, your wife Mary right with your mom's name is Mary Ma'am, you didn't get the vaccine?
She did. You can answer that. You got the vaccine.
Okay, so you both got the vaccine even though mom's in a week. Now. So you have not seen your family. Your daughter you've not seen rini your grandkids for a year. Do you plan to see them now now that you've been vaccinated? Are you planning to wait for the second job? How is life change for you what what changes?
Sarah, one Nia was a great trouble young here. My daughter has never had an occasion that she didn't visit us. We stay in Noida she stay in wasn't good. But there's not an occasion where I could meet my own daughter. And we are a hugging family. When we when I when she had managed to come after all this lockdown, and not about her opened and then you had a temperature check. And then when she comes, you know, I put out my hand and then I hold it back. Because we can hug each other. She's wearing a mask. I'm wearing a mask. Now. It was terrible. It was terrible.
But we followed it in letter and spirit 100 time washing hands. We did not want to get COVID and we fought it as we can fight it. As the book says. Fortunately, it is almost over now. Well, let's hope so. And even now really came over. We didn't hug
while we commander your Airforce background is clearly showing you're a man of discipline all the way to the end. Even your daughter's love is now going to make you break that and break that discipline. But I'm sure you're looking forward to a really warm bear hug with really, but here you see all of these senior citizens doing their bit not just to protect themselves but also pitching in in India's fight against the spread of the coronavirus. Let's get getting some of our audience members we have Dr. Magoo Honda joining us doctor, your medical director at the motion Hospital in the National Capital, the elderly have accounted for 70% of mortalities across the world. Yet older people tolerate the vaccine better than younger people.
Yes. From what our experience has been and what our observation has been yes, even for the healthcare workers and even in the general public. We are observing that is the oldest people handle or do better with the vaccine. We when we were vaccinating our healthcare workers, especially the younger resident doctors, I know these resident doctors used to get high fever and cuff mini COVID like symptoms, but they used to get better two days maximum. But yes, all the senior doctors tolerated it much better.
Fascinating. Fascinating.
Yeah, most of us had, you know, chills and body aches. I didn't have even fever just by crossing in the first dose and one crossing in the second dose. I have got two doses so I have been fully vaccinated at the
far end because you know, the immune system also ages along with you All right, thank you, doctor. Let's we have a missing joining us. 24 year old entrepreneur, CEO of a spice health Daughter of Ajay Singh, the chairman of India's second largest airline spicejet, a family business that of course was affected by the lockdown Because air travel globally was the first to be hit in the pandemic Abdi Thank you, your paternal grandparents, I think grandmother lives in the same home as you, right?
Yes. So they have been vaccinated. They got vaccinated a couple days ago, in the second phase of the vaccination, they had a completely seamless experience. Very good.
And they were certainly looking forward to the job. They wanted it fast, you know, if it would have been possible, and I think I'm getting vaccinated was a huge relief, not only for them, but I think more for us, for the ones who have been going to office for a long time now, it's a huge sense of relief, do not do not come home and, you know, be nervous about potentially infecting them. Because I think the biggest concern with COVID is not infecting someone like me who's young, but but then me potentially being a carrier, and attacking someone who may not recover as quickly.
Absolutely. We'll talk about grandparents, you know, I believe the one lesson grandparents would like to pass on to their grandchildren, given that they've seen life, given their life experiences, it's probably the life is long, right? It's a marathon, there will be ups and there will be downs. And learning to be resilient is the key learning how to pivot. Those are the ones who actually survive. So in in October, in the middle of this pandemic, you actually quit your job to start a company spices. Tell us a little bit about that.
That it is correct. So I was working at a consulting firm last year after coming back from the US where I was starting before that, and I did intend to work at the consulting firm for a little bit longer. But I think the situation was getting so bad and cases were increasing so rapidly. And it was pretty clear that in a city like Delhi, the capital city testing capacity wasn't high enough. And we weren't testing enough people, especially an RT PCR test, as opposed to an antigen test. So it was getting difficult to control the pandemic. So in November of last year, I came up with a model of a mobile laboratory to be able to offer affordable and scalable testing across the city. At the time tests were offer for 2400 rupees.
And we made them available for 499 rupees, which of course, was a big shift, and allowed for a lot more testing in the budget that the government did have. Now, Delhi is conducting with us about 20,000 tests in one day. And I truly believe that that has been one of the main reasons testing is one of the main reasons that Delhi has managed to control its cases the way that it has. Because we can quickly just quickly trace and identify those infected and then isolate them. So this company did start in November of last year. And we've come a long way since we are now in Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and expanding quickly to be able to test people for COVID as quickly as we can, and isolate them until they then get the vaccine.
And oddly, lastly, you know, being an entrepreneur is not easy guessing you had to be out and about working, setting things up, you didn't have the luxury of being able to stay in and stay secure, given the stage that your business was at. How did COVID impact you? I mean, do you need to stay away from your grandparents for whom access to family and grandkids really is the antidote to ageing?
I think it was difficult, it was challenging. And you know, never before especially in an Indian household. I mean, what about maintaining a distance from your grandparents or trying to stay away to protect them for their own safety, or, you know, you've never really told them don't go out and don't, you know, be a little careful.
So I think for mental health to be stuck at home, especially for them when we are going out. And then for us to come home and try to maintain a little bit of a distance is definitely not natural. It's not something that comes naturally. And it has been challenging, but I think it is what you need to do to stay safe. And we've all found innovative ways to you know, still maintain that contact and to still sit at a distance and talk and to be able to play games and so on. But I think that now with the coming of the vaccine, you know, added more and more testing, hopefully we can control the pandemic soon and life will be back to normal even for them sooner rather than later.
Whatever the new normal is, thank you so much avnei thing for joining us. So let's dr Deepak rahasia, Director and Chief psychiatrist at hope care India. So the vaccine really you've heard all these stories, whether it's in the face of others rini or me here, so vaccine for senior citizens really a shortage of hope, because some of the most critical aspects of well being would be simple things like a daily walk, all of that has come to a standstill because of the lockdown and social isolation and what does that mean for you know, the onset of dementia and age specific diseases.
2020 has been very tough for most of us for all of us. It has shown life and change life in many facets and many damage. And needless to mention, the most pronounced effects have been seen in the elderly, because small things, small shows going for a daily walk, just being out, communicating, like the Wing Commander was so beautifully saying we are a family of hearts, you know, at that age has so important that that is so important. And being deprived of all of that really meant not just distress, but a lot of psychological turbulence, a lot of, you know, markers of anxiety that we have seen increase in incidence of depression dysthymia, long gone depression, subsyndromal depression. So it's been a tough year for the elderly.
And I see this vaccine not only for the preventive work that it will do by virtue of its action, but also in terms of psychogenic markers in terms of the short of hope, as you call it is going to be a boon is going to be a ray of hope, where they will now be able to restore to their normal life the Hudson touches Welcome back, they will be able to start going for the walks and and life will start coming back to normal. So I mean, when we say placebo effect, the placebo effect in certain medicine does not just work out of nowhere, there are psychogenic markers. So as much as this vaccine will prevent the protect the elderly and and the others who are taking it. It's also going to mediate through various markers which are going to lower the the processes of inflammation in the body, increasing the immunity response. So I think the real hope is here and people are going to start getting better and, and and
being being nervous about your own grandkids of you know, having to stay away from your grandkids. That's really very traumatic. Rajiv and Estelle decide now join us from Goa Rajeev. What was your experience? Like taking the vaccine? And can you share? I mean, this, you know, the whole technological aspect of it having to register on an app or choose to walk in that floor you you in a cell in any way?
Oh, no, actually, that wasn't so much too difficult. Our daughter also helped. And we're okay with computers. So we were able to get all that done what struck me and we are not involved, by the way, we are back in Delhi. And we took the vaccine.
And so when we went to the hospital, I found that the professional staff were very eager and solicitous. But they had a procedure to follow, which obviously seems to have been sacked by some bureaucratic process. And so there were there was legislation that was complete confusion, and it took us much longer than it should have. Okay, so. So that led me to the conclusion that they left it pretty much to the bureaucrats and the bureaucrats pretty much loaded it over the professional and created a France capital like situation where something that could be infinite to the half hour to four hours. But I'm not complaining. We've got the vaccine. We're waiting for another one. Yes. And you know, actually, the whole trick to dealing with this is is to use common sense. We didn't go nuts and say Don't come near me stay the hell away from me not that we behave as normally as before. And we have to grind to avoid jumping all over you. Well,
despite all of this then we've been hearing stories about the patience the courtesy of medical staff dealing with long queues, dealing with systems put in place as you put it by bureaucrats but they've really been at the frontline working all these months and and making a success story that you know the world is watching and with filled with gratitude and respect for these health workers. We have someone else joining us which are not an unknown 79 years old mistana your your your quick reaction response. What was your experience like taking the vaccine?
Well, actually, my experience was very seamless. I was able to register on the first day, though with a bit of difficulty because I think the servers were overloaded. But after having registered on the appointed date, I had chosen Centre in motion hospital the whole process was surprisingly very, very seamless. I was told, you know, we'd have to sit in the sun and so on so forth, and we'd have to wait for hours. But actually, there was a very comfortable seating place. I didn't need an umbrella to keep the sun out. I didn't need my packet of biscuits or water. Everything was available there. The staff were overworked, not because of anything else. But mentally also the people who go there for the vaccination, tend to sometimes not follow procedures or, you know, stick with us and so on, so forth. So you could see that the staff was very patiently handling it. Sure.
And in the process for senior citizens from the first of March, they've been doing it since the 15th of July. Just imagine how overworked they are. Thank you all for joining us tonight. The message clearly going out is that go get your vaccine if you can. I'm going to leave you with visuals of prabhavati Kate Curran and a resident who marked a 100th birthday on Friday, and she was surprised by a cake by the the hospital staff where she had gone to receive the Coronavirus vaccine. So again, all of us here expressed our respect and gratitude, gratefulness to the healthcare workers who have been working for months on end to protect us. And perhaps if we cannot pitch in India can become a role model on how to vaccinate a billion people at scale, speed and in a trusted manner.Thank you for read
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