The vaccination drive in India is in a very precarious situation right now. At one end, WHO is halting approval for Covishield, and Covaxin, and on the other end, there is still a shortage of vaccines in many areas. On top of all, people are half or ill-informed about the vaccines, and showing reluctance for getting jabbed.
In such a scenario, the Madhya Pradesh police department has started quite a unique method to encourage vaccination.
Those who have taken the Covid-19 vaccine are being awarded and tagged with a badge that reads: “I’m a patriot as I’m vaccinated” by the policemen in Niwari. They didn’t just do this but those who have not yet got inoculated are being made to wear a poster with the message, “Stay away from me as I am not vaccinated yet“.
#WATCH Police in Madhya Pradesh's Niwari honour those who have taken COVID19 vaccine with a badge that says, "I'm a patriot as I'm vaccinated", & those who haven't got vaccinated being made to wear a poster carrying a message, "Stay away from me as I am not vaccinated yet" pic.twitter.com/cmmv9HrlSf
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2021
The move has created a buzz in the social media after News Agency ANI shared the after photos and videos of the same.
There have been mixed responses to the badges. Some lauded it, and some pointed out the unavailability of vaccines.
Very good initiative 🙏
— Nandini Idnani🇮🇳 (@idnani_nandini) June 9, 2021
When Vaccines are not available in large no. People are waiting for their turn, it's more humiliation than social message.
— g0v!ñD $#@®mA (@rishu_1809) June 9, 2021
Earlier, the ‘Tika Lagao – Dukan Khulwao’ slogan is being popularized by the administrations for unlocking. The unlocking process for Bhopal would begin on June 10, with markets being permitted to open. The markets have been allowed to function from 10 am to 8 pm, six days a week. The city reported 571 coronavirus positive cases and 32 fatalities, taking the tally to 7,85,767 and the toll to 8,369, on Monday.