On the eve of January 18, 2021, I received a text message that marked a significant moment in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The message informed me that my COVID-19 vaccination session was scheduled for the following morning at the Sadar Hospital campus in Ranchi. I was to bring an ID proof provided during registration and be there any time between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The efficiency of the government in rolling out these vaccination programs impressed me.

Later that night, Dr. Manish, a colleague of mine, called to inform me that he too had received the message. Our vaccination was organized by Medica Hospital, our workplace. Through our conversation, I learned two important things: first, the hospital staff were scheduled for vaccination over a few consecutive days to avoid crowding (social distancing was still crucial); second, I needed to get vaccinated early the next morning. Two of my colleagues, listed for vaccination the same day, were on night shifts and planned to get vaccinated before heading home for rest.

The next morning, I woke up with a mix of anticipation and readiness to receive what the government campaign had dubbed “another layer of protection.” I called my colleagues to coordinate our visit and reached our hospital at around 9:00 AM. After a brief wait, we set off for Sadar Hospital.

After a 15-20 minute drive, we arrived at our destination. Despite the hospital’s relatively new infrastructure, it already carried the weary air common to many government facilities, which dampened my spirits a bit. I had visited this place once before, ages ago, during an Aadhaar card campaign with my dad. The layout was a blur in my memory, but thankfully, our colleague Dr. Abhijeet, stationed at the hospital, was there to guide us.

Dr. Abhijeet led us to a small waiting room filled with a few chairs. Dr. Manju, an elderly colleague, and my other colleagues joined me in occupying the seats. Although the vaccinations were scheduled to start at 9:00 AM, in true government fashion, they began around 10:00 AM, only after some insistent persuasion from us.

Afterwards, we were escorted to an observation room where we were to wait for 30 minutes. This precaution was to monitor for any immediate adverse reactions to the vaccine. It felt a bit like being part of an experiment, but I understood the rationale behind it. The waiting period passed uneventfully, and soon we were free to leave the premises.

Curious about how I felt post-vaccination? The experience was mostly uneventful. I experienced mild malaise for a couple of days, but nothing serious. I’ll be returning for my booster dose in a month, but that’s a story for another day.

As I reflect on this experience, I urge everyone to stay safe and healthy, follow necessary precautions, and most importantly, not to skip the vaccine when it’s available to them. Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting us from illness. While they don’t offer a 100% guarantee, they significantly boost our immunity against COVID-19. Thank you for reading my story, and may we all continue to support each other through these challenging times. 🙏