Tepid response to vaccine sparks worry

With election over, pace expected to pick up

Though the State has begun an aggressive vaccination campaign against COVID-19, trying to vaccinate as many people as possible in the 45 years plus age group in the next 45 days, the lukewarm response is raising concerns. While the response in districts such as Thiruvananthapuram, which has been administering over 20,000 doses a day, is encouraging, some vaccine hesitancy and lack of trust in the new vaccines are in evidence in Idukki, Malappuram, and Kasaragod, officials said. When vaccination was opened up for the 60 plus age group on March 1, the response had been phenomenal, with people thronging the sites. “We expected a similar response when vaccinations were opened up for all above 45 years on April 1. But there is no urgency amongst people though cases are climbing,” an official said.