WITH Pakistan having begun its first stage of Covid-19 vaccinations, a mass awareness programme about the need, efficacy and safety of the vaccines is critical. Even in these early days, there has been some confusion about whether the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is safe for those over 60. The Ministry of Health, however, has clarified that the vaccine is not being administered to doctors above 60 as the data for Sinopharm is not available for trial candidates in that age bracket. While these are important clarifications, the government must put careful thought and resources into a public-awareness drive. Across the world, vaccine scepticism has been a huge challenge even prior to Covid-19. A December 2020 survey conducted jointly by data-gathering company Ipsos and the World Economic Forum revealed that the country most suspicious of the Covid-19 vaccine is France, which has been a vaccine-sceptical nation even before the coronavirus struck. The survey, which was taken by 13,500 people in 15 countries, revealed that only 40pc of adults in France intended to get the vaccine. The greatest number of people intending to be inoculated against the virus was seen in China, where 80pc agreed that they would get the vaccine if it was available. One of the main reasons behind vaccine refusal, the survey revealed, was the fear of side effects, followed by doubts about its efficacy. Some respondents said they would refuse as they felt they were not at risk of contracting the virus, while a lower percentage said they are against vaccines in general.

Pakistan is no exception when it comes to vaccine scepticism. The polio vaccination programme for years has been marred by refusals and even violence due to misguided beliefs about polio drops. As a result, Pakistan remains one of the last two countries left where the virus has not been eradicated. The government ought to consider these realities and address not just the sceptics but also those who do not have access to information about the global vaccination drive. An effective awareness programme can be implemented by engaging health experts, public figures and community leaders. Here, the ministries of information and public health can play a pivotal role in addressing concerns about efficacy, side effects, the age factor and other vulnerabilities. The idea should be to share information with the public in a convincing, transparent and accessible manner, so that citizens can make an informed decision about the Covid-19 vaccine.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021