HAVING heard of the good arrangements at Expo Centre in Lahore for Covid-19 vaccination, and the fact that there was no need to wait for the code informing the date to visit after registration, I ventured to visit the centre on March 14.

On reaching the vaccination centre at about noon, I found the car parking full. After much effort I found a place to park my car. On entering the hall I was shocked to see it full of people. I had no doubt it was a breeding ground for Covid-19.

I returned without getting vaccinated. The next day I reached the centre early in the morning at around 8am, hoping that the place would not be as crowded as it was in the afternoon the previous day. It proved to be a mistake, for it was worse than the previous day, with people waiting for their turn since 7am to be vaccinated.

The parking was full with cars waiting in a long queue outside the Expo Centre. Inside were long queues to enter the vaccination area. It took me about two hours to enter the centre, but, once there, I had the occasion to heave a sigh of relief as the arrangements were better and things were pretty much under control.

I think the government made a mistake in entertaining people without registration and call-up dates. The senior citizens of 75 years and above should have been given preference instead of allowing those aged 60 as well.

It was a pity seeing old people waiting in queues for so long under the sun. Steps to overcome these issues must be taken before the weather turns even warmer, for we still have senior citizens wanting to be vaccinated.

Khalid Saifur
Lahore

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IF Sunday was bad, Monday was even worse for those who wanted to be vaccinated for Covid-19. Misleading statements by some politicians prompted elderly people like me and my wife to make a bee line at the Expo Centre in Lahore, since we had already received the date and registration number online.

What we saw there was overwhelming. For the huge crowd that turned up to get the vaccine, things were pretty disappointing. It was business as usual at the Expo Centre.

There were poor arrangements, with senior citizens having to wait standing out in the sun for hours with no seating arrangements, and no food or water. As people expected to have a quick and pleasant experience, no one had brought such essentials.

Even the poor staff at the centre could not get either tea or water. And then we came to know that, as usual, all VIPs were taken care of by the hordes of officers from the health department, who disappeared soon after the VIPs were vaccinated, while the members of the public were left to fend for themselves.

With the big rush at the doors, there was no social distancing and I was left fearing that people would get the virus in this hustle and bustle.

All those senior citizens thinking of going to the Expo Centre for the Covid-19 shot should go fully prepared to face these hardships and must have someone to accompany them.

Feisal Beig
Lahore

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2021