NEW DELHI:India's huge coronavirus vaccination drive is behind schedule, with a third of recipients not showing up for appointments because of safety fears, technical glitches and a belief that the pandemic is ending.
After one week, India has vaccinated 1.4 million people, or 200,000 people per day. It had initially hoped to process 300,000 per day before ramping up the rollout and inoculating 300 million by July.
At the Sharda Hospital in Greater Noida near New Delhi, pharma student Khushi Dhingra, 17, hugged a friend and wept as she waited to get her shot.
"I am very afraid. I hate needles and I am worried about side effects," she told AFP.
"My papa is very worried too. He is calling me again and again to make sure I am okay."
"There are about 80 students in my batch but only two have opted to get the shot," said nursing student Sakshi Sharma, 21, in Greater Noida.
"My friends are saying there will be side effects, that you can even get paralysis."
India is using two shots for its drive.
One is Covishield, a locally produced version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been approved and safely used in a number of other countries after completing Phase 3 human trials.
The other -- Covaxin -- was developed locally by Bharat Biotech and has not yet completed Phase 3 trials, though the government has insisted it is "110 percent safe".
- WhatsApp worries -
Side effects are a common fear, with a few cases of severe reactions and even deaths reported widely in the media and circulating wildly on Facebook and WhatsApp.
In the eastern state of West Bengal, health chief Ajoy Chakraborty said that turnout was just under 70 percent, calling it "not encouraging".
"We could have achieved our target if some hadn't backed out after seeing television reports of adverse effects following immunisation," Chakraborty said.
But Alisha Khan, 20, a nursing student in Greater Noida, said people were also hesitant because of the "rushed" approval of Covaxin.
"Why are they trying to experiment on us? First, they should have completed trials in a proper way," Khan told AFP. "I am shivering already out of fear."
- Coronavirus complacency -
Dhingra, in the end, did not get a shot after staff realised she was under 18. She had, however, received a text telling her to come for the vaccination from the IT system managing the mammoth process.
The government says that this and other glitches are being ironed out.
One was that if a person did not show up for vaccination, someone else could not simply take their place.
This led to unfinished vaccine vials which contain a certain number of doses and have to be used that day being thrown away.
Also hurting the effort is complacency with the number of coronavirus infections and deaths in India falling sharply in recent months.
"In the beginning when there was lockdown, (villagers) were very scared of the coronavirus," said Asha Chauhan, 30, who is part of vaccination efforts in rural areas.
"Now that fear has gone because cases have come down. They feel corona has gone from our country now," she said. "They fear they will die if they take the vaccine."
- Selfie zones -
Many of the 30 million people due for jabs in the first phase are health workers who have seen the deadly pandemic close up -- yet many of them are hesitant.
This needs to addressed before the vaccine is rolled out to the wider Indian population, experts say, where vaccine scepticism is already rife.
"They must launch awareness campaigns in every nook and corner of the country," said Anita Yadav, 25, an auxiliary nurse and midwife, told AFP.
The government has attempted to boost participation, even adapting a classic Bollywood song with lyrics telling people not to believe false rumours.
One Delhi hospital has set up a "selfie zone" for satisfied recipients to take photos. And vaccination centres have started playing light, soothing music in waiting rooms.
"All the top clinicians and doctors have taken the jab and we're pushing the videos of them taking the shot for circulation and it has been helping in overcoming any hesitancy," said Dr Qazi Haroon, an immunisation officer in Kashmir.
"Now (inoculations) are picking up satisfactorily... Yesterday (Friday), we met 80-90 percent of our targets across vaccination stations."
Shahid Jameel, a virologist and academic, said that a country like India was bound to have teething problems.
"Once the frontline workers are given the jabs," Jameel told AFP, "confidence will slowly build up."
AFP RELAXNEWS
Sun Jan 24 2021
![Tears and fears as India's huge coronavirus vaccine push falters Tears and fears as India's huge coronavirus vaccine push falters](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/61611479277_INDIA.jpg)
Many of the 30 million people due for jabs in the first phase are health workers who have seen the deadly pandemic close up. AFPRelaxpic
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan berikutan komitmen peribadi
Pengurus pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia, Kim Pan-gon menyatakan perletakan jawatan tersebut kerana komitmen peribadi.
#AWANInews
#AWANInews
![Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721102997_SimposiumDronKeban.jpg)
Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi
Penggunaan dron membolehkan pemantauan pencemaran alam sekitar dan hidupan liar serta pencerobohan hutan dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan.
![Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718142997_KimPanGon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya
Kim Pan-gon, bakal menjadi satu-satunya individu yang bakal meninggalkan pasukan manakala Pau Marti bersama staf sokongan yang lain kekal di Kelana Jaya.
![Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721109015_bekaspengawalperib.jpg)
Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan
Bekas anggota polis wanita yang kini bekerja sebagai pengawal peribadi cedera setelah motosikal ditunggangnya melanggar sebuah SUV di lebuh raya PLUS.
![Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719996195_MKulasegaran.jpg)
Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran
RUU Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentangkan di Parlimen pada akhir tahun ini selepas cadangan ketetapan bagi penggubalan Akta Kebebasan Maklumat dibawa ke Jemaah Menteri untuk kelulusan.
![Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108438_azizi.jpg)
Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu
Timbalan Ketua Polis Perak Datuk Azizi Mat Aris dilantik sebagai Ketua Polis Perak yang baharu hari ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108165_ADUNRembiaPN.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
Kita perlu belajar hidup dengan COVID-19 - Pakar
Itu kata Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), Dr Aznida Mohamad Zaki yang berkata pihaknya akan berusaha semampu mungkin dalam menggalakkan praktis kendiri dikalangan orang awam bagi mencegah penularan wabak seperti mana yang pernah dilakukan sebelum ini.
LHDN lulus 141,406 permohonan PKPS 2.0
Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) telah meluluskan sebanyak 141,406 permohonan program khas pengakuan sukarela (PKPS) 2.0 yang melibatkan 102,572 bilangan kes pembayar cukai individu, 27,707 bilangan kes syarikat dan selebihnya melibatkan lain kategori seperti pertubuhan.
![Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721017239_TBFADILLAH.jpg)
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, tingkatkan liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
![Satu maut, bumbung runtuh di lapangan terbang Delhi Satu maut, bumbung runtuh di lapangan terbang Delhi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719570005_TBIndiaAirport.jpg)
Satu maut, bumbung runtuh di lapangan terbang Delhi
Menurut NDTV, mangsa berada dalam empat kenderaan yang dihempap oleh balok yang runtuh.
![Siklon Remal: Wisma Putra pantau impak di India, Bangladesh Siklon Remal: Wisma Putra pantau impak di India, Bangladesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/61716857632_CycloneRemalWeather.jpg)
Siklon Remal: Wisma Putra pantau impak di India, Bangladesh
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan mengingatkan rakyat Malaysia yang berada di kawasan yang terjejas untuk sentiasa berwaspada.
![Tujuh bayi baru lahir maut dalam kebakaran di Delhi Tujuh bayi baru lahir maut dalam kebakaran di Delhi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/41695212793_bayigeneric.jpg)
Tujuh bayi baru lahir maut dalam kebakaran di Delhi
Tujuh bayi baru lahir maut dan lima lagi cedera apabila sebuah pusat penjagaan bayi di kawasan Vivek Vihar, timur Delhi terbakar.
![Skuad berbasikal para sambar dua emas dan dua perak di India Skuad berbasikal para sambar dua emas dan dua perak di India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/71708617438_MohdKhairulHazwan.jpg)
Skuad berbasikal para sambar dua emas dan dua perak di India
Skuad para negara mempamerkan persembahan cemerlang untuk menghadiahkan dua pingat emas serta dua pingat perak pada Kejohanan Berbasikal Trek Para Asia 2024.
![Jumlah korban kilang terbakar di New Delhi meningkat kepada 11 orang Jumlah korban kilang terbakar di New Delhi meningkat kepada 11 orang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81708065537_TBIndiaFactoryFi.jpg)
Jumlah korban kilang terbakar di New Delhi meningkat kepada 11 orang
Menurut bomba, identiti mangsa yang rentung, semuanya pekerja kilang, masih belum dapat dipastikan.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Speaker Kanada tidak akan hadir Sidang Kemuncak Speaker Parlimen G20 di New Delhi Speaker Kanada tidak akan hadir Sidang Kemuncak Speaker Parlimen G20 di New Delhi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/81697168363_RaymondeGagne.jpg)
Speaker Kanada tidak akan hadir Sidang Kemuncak Speaker Parlimen G20 di New Delhi
Hubungan Ottawa dan New Delhi agak dingin selepas PM Justin Trudeau menuduh India terlibat dalam pembunuhan aktivis pemisah Sikh.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Kedutaan Afghanistan di New Delhi ditutup Kedutaan Afghanistan di New Delhi ditutup](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/51696134438_Afghanistanembassy.jpg)
Kedutaan Afghanistan di New Delhi ditutup
Misi yang terletak di kawasan diplomatik Chanakyapuri itu bakal menamatkan operasi mulai 1 Oktober.
![Malaysia, India bincang kerjasama pertahanan di New Delhi Malaysia, India bincang kerjasama pertahanan di New Delhi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/61695165540_kerjasamapertahanan.jpg)
Malaysia, India bincang kerjasama pertahanan di New Delhi
Pegawai dari kementerian pertahanan India dan Malaysia membincangkan kerjasama dalam pelbagai bidang semasa mesyuarat mereka di New Delhi.