Teens win social media with pro-jab messages

Pune: The social media is buzzing with teenagers posting photos and selfies of their vaccination, with hashtags such as #CancelCovid.They are writing about their experiences regarding the smooth process of booking slots and quick administration of vaccine, posting pictures and videos of them getting jabs and encouraging others to do so , garnering “likes” from their friends and parents. When governments across the world are fighting vaccine hesitancy among adults, adolescents in the city are showing the way with their vaccine eagerness. “My friends and I have been waiting for the vaccination drive to start for the 15-18 age group. We did not have any apprehensions because we had already done a lot of research about the immunisation when our parents took the vaccine last year,” said Siya Gurbaxani (17).Trisha Modi (16) said, “Everyone in my family had taken the vaccine, except me. I was looking forward to taking the jab but tested positive for Covid mid-December. I have a slight cold and cough, so my doctor has advised me to wait until I am perfectly fine. All my friends are posting pictures on social media of their vaccination and encouraging others to take it at the earliest.” “I had apprehensions about the symptoms associated with the vaccine but many of my friends have taken it since the drive started. They are motivating me to get my jab, too,” said Vansh Sanghvi (16).Jazmine Shah (16) planned her vacation in the US in such a way that she could take both vaccination doses there before the drive was started in Pune for those in her age group. “I got my first dose of Pfizer after registering with my identification documents within three days of my arrival in the US in July last year.”Rohan Gaikwad, MNS prabhag president of NIBM-Mohammedwadi, said the footfall of adolescent beneficiaries, though low on the first day, picked up significantly on the second day. Tushar Parikh, paediatrician, Motherhood hospital, Kharadi, said, “On the first day, we administered 45 doses. On the second day, all 100 slots were full, 10% of which were walk-ins. We are sharing information about the expiry date on the vile before administering the shots to the beneficiaries.”