Manish Kumar first to take shot in Delhi

NEW DELHI: At 11.10am on Saturday, 34-year-old sanitation worker Manish Kumar became the first person in Delhi to get the Covid-19 vaccine, marking a personal triumph for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) employee who fought against the fears of his family and friends to get the shot.

A sanitation machine operator for eight years, Kumar was among the first people in the hospital to volunteer for the vaccine, but kept his wife and mother in the dark because of their strong apprehension of side effects. On Saturday, he was vindicated, even inspiring his best friend to get over his jitters and get the jab.

“I wanted to serve as an example to my family and colleagues,” said Kumar, minutes after he received Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin shot, flanked by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan and AIIMS director Randeep Guleria. “I can now work at the hospital without the fear of getting infected,” he added.

A resident of Najafgarh in outer Delhi, Kumar wore a mask while being vaccinated as a cheering crowd gathered around and was monitored by three doctors for 30 minutes after the injection. He said he volunteered to dispel any fears about the vaccine jab, which has triggered some criticism because its efficacy is not publicly known and it is yet to complete phase 3 trials.

“There are rumours on social media about the vaccine. I am fortunate to play a part in dispelling those rumours. There are no rashes on my body, no feeling of nausea, no pain, nothing,” said Kumar.

Kumar will now go back to his daily duty at the hospital, and get his second vaccine jab in 28 days. “Now I can work without fear,” he said.