ISLAMABAD, Aug 08 (DNA): One-third Pakistanis still have not accepted Covid vaccine since its inception on December 31, 2019, terming it a conspiracy of world powers for their heinous purposes.

News Network International conducted a survey on the rate of acceptability of Covid-19 vaccine in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi here on Sunday.

As per details of the survey, one citizen namely Ali Hasan, 19, from Sector G-7 of the federal capital, when asked if he is ready for getting himself vaccinated against Covid-19 , he said, ‘no’ and added that Covid is only a conspiracy hatched by world powers; however, he remained tight-lipped the moment he was questioned had he any proof behind his self-proclaimed viewpoint.

A citizen, Muhammad Kamran, 24, from Sector I-9, said he is in favour of getting vaccinated. He said when the educated segment of the society is rushing towards the vaccine centres why should he hold him back.

One Noman Khan, 23, from Sector I-8, said since the pandemic inception, he has always been opposing those propagandists who dub it a conspiracy. For substantiating his viewpoint, he gave references of a number of doctors who recently have got themselves vaccinated.

A citizen namely Muhammad Asif, 48, from Sector I-10, when asked whether he is in favour of Covid vaccine or not, he said he is a staunch supporter of it. However, he put forth another viewpoint stating, “I am a hardliner worker of Tehreek Minhajul Quran (TMQ), headed by Dr Tahirul Qadri. I did what my leader had advised me to do. I got myself vaccinated very earlier and have always opposed those go against it.”

 A female, A, 46, from Sector G-11, said that she knows nothing about the Covid vaccine so the discussion with her on the matter remained inconclusive.

A female, B, 50, from Satellite Town, Rawalpindi, who was teacher by profession, was of the view that the rulers couldn’t go against their masses. She voted in favour of getting vaccinated and also came hard on those forging propaganda against the vaccine, accusing it a conspiracy hatched by world powers, particularly, America, for their vested interests.

One, female, 15, a student of Grade-10, declined to be part of commenting on the matter, though said she will act upon the suggestions of her mama either getting vaccinated or not. When pressed further, she was of the view that she was not cognizant of the vaccine role in her life at all.

A citizen, Tahir Usman, 37, belonging to Raja Bazar, was found to be a supporter of getting vaccinated. While validating his viewpoint, he said, ” I don’t believe in conspiracy theories. Getting vaccine is in accordace with the Islamic teachings that is why I have got myself vaccinated.”

One Muhammad Abdullah, 61, from Pindora, voted in favour of Covid vaccine, saying if the rulers are getting vaccinated then why not the ruled.

Another M. Rizwan, 36, from Saddar, said, “I’m as anxious in getting vaccined as you can imagine though I have not gotten myself vaccinated as yet.” Putting aside all the rumours against Covid vaccine and referring to acceptability of polio vaccine, he termed it quite natural that people are accepting it slowly.

Hence the aforementioned survey indicates that a tangible chunk (approx. one-third) of Pakistani population is still uncertain about the COVID-19 vaccine which is indeed alarming for the whole nation.

The government should inculcate more awareness on emergent basis among Pakistanis through different channels who still name Corona a conspiracy of world powers lest it gets too late to manage its repercussions. DNA

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