Getting vaccinated: FAQs

“Har musībat kā diyā ek tabassum se javāb, Is tarah gardish- e- daurāñ ko rulāyā maiñ ne (For every adversity in life, I answered with a smile. With this (attitude) I made all such adversities cry)”: hundred-year-old Jai Dev Chowdhry quoted a nazm (verse) of poet Shaukat Ali Khan and said that a positive attitude in life could help people overcome the difficulties during the pandemic.

Chowdhry was administered the first dose of the Serum Institute of India-manufactured Covishield at Medicover Hospitals, Madhapur on March 1. While he was scheduled to get the second dose on March 29, the government on March 22 increased the interval between the two doses from 28 days to 4-6 weeks.

The ministry of health and family welfare took the decision on the recommendation of two expert groups – the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19.

But, Chowdhry insists he has faced bigger crises than the apprehensions surrounding the vaccine. “I have gone through more difficult times and faced more pain during my life. What can this injection do? I faced every difficulty with a smile because of my positive attitude, and this pandemic too

I have overcome with a smile. So, I happily got vaccinated and it only made me feel more positive,” Chowdhry, a retired businessman, said.

His family runs Gemini Edibles and Fats India Pvt Ltd which produces the Freedom brand of refined oils. “There is no need to have any concerns about vaccination and its efficacy. Everybody, particularly the old people and those with comorbidities, should get the vaccine. Vaccination is the best solution to overcome all these difficulties,” he said. Chowdhry’s family said he is not suffering from any comorbidities.

“I felt absolutely fine [after the vaccination] and didn’t feel any inconvenience...,” Chowdhry, who lives with his son Pradeep, 65, in the upscal e Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad, said.

His relief turned to joy when Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited Chowdhry’s example to motivate others for vaccination during his Mann ki Baat address on March 28. “The 100-year-old man Jai Chowdhry from Hyderabad has taken vaccine and it’s an appeal to everybody to take the vaccine, too,” the PM said.

Chowdhry said he took inspiration from the PM. “When Modi sahab could get the vaccination jab, it must be safe for everybody. There was no need to feel any trouble in taking the vaccine even at this age,” he said. The Prime Minister received the first dose of his vaccine on March 1 in New Delhi; he was administered the second on April 8. Chowdhry also lamented that the drive wasn’t started earlier. “Being isolated within the house I felt like I was in a jail... Even with my family, how much can I talk when everyone is wearing masks,” he said. Now, he said, he can socialise with people again.

Myth

Vaccines were developed too quickly, hence, they are not safe

Why it’s not true