Vaccination acceptance growing, say authorities

Jabs restrict severity of Omicron and help to reduce mortality

As the vaccination drive gets under way, physicians say that the public seems to have understood that prevention is better than cure during a pandemic. Despite battling misconceptions and contradictory reports on the potency (or not) of the corona virus and Omicron variant, more people have voluntarily opted for vaccination this time.

“It is a myth that COVID-19 vaccination offers no protection against Omiciron infection; the truth is that it actually reduces the disease severity and mortality when compared to unvaccinated persons,” A. Subramani, Deputy Director of Health Services, said. In Tiruchi, 88% of adults over 18 years had taken their first dose, and 58.4% had taken their second, while 81% of children from 15-18 years of age had received their first dose, he added.

The rumour that Omicron variant may be milder is unfounded, said Dr. M. Hakkim, emergency physician in charge of the vaccination drive within the city limits. “Though we are seeing it as less severe than its predecessor variants, Omicron is still dangerous. The good thing about the vaccination drive this time is that people have become motivated to either step up for their first dose or complete their second dose,” he said.