THE government has made arrangements at various Covid-19 vaccination centres throughout the country to facilitate the masses. I recently got my vaccine in my native city, Dadu. But the harsh attitude of the staff at the centre, to say the least, was nothing but shocking.

But that was not the real cause of my concern while being there at the centre. The staff there had two kinds of Chinese vaccines — Sinopharm and Sinovac. Initially, they had used Sinopharm for the first dose, but now they use Sinovac, which is confusing for the citizens who are well aware and educated about vaccines and the vaccination process.

There were two educated citizens ahead of me in the queue who had a heated argument with the staff about their second dose. They were vaccinated with Sinopharm for the first time, while they were being offered Sinovac for the second dose.

This is unacceptable, for we all know that everyone must get one type of vaccine for both doses. The issue was resolved, however, only after the two citizens approached the civil surgeon who eventually arranged the same vaccine which the two gentlemen had had for their first dose.

With such careless and unprofessional conduct on their part, it is strange that staff members still have the audacity to be rude to those coming for vaccination.

The people are already worried about efficacy and side effects of the vaccine. They should be guided in a more professional manner and be motivated by the hospital staff instead of discouraging them through rude behaviour, and, intentionally or unintentionally, trying to administer the wrong/different vaccine for the second dose.

Khalid Mehmood Bhatty

Dadu

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2021