Week 49 - One step forward and two back in Pakistan

Edited BY


G P Kennedy


Tassy - Karachi, Pakistan




 A lot has happened since my last post. On the surface, Pakistan`s vaccination effort seems to have had a flying start. 


 After vaccinating health workers at the beginning of March, they began to open up the registration process for over-Seventies, followed soon by over-Sixties. 


 Yesterday a news report said that the over-Fifties age group could start registering their names from 30th March (Yay for me!). From my social circle and extended family, everyone I know over the age of 60 has now had their first jab. 


 They have all also been notified of dates for their second shots in three weeks' time. The process has been smooth and efficient from what I have heard.

 As I said, all looks good on the surface but the issue we are facing multiple barriers.






 A large portion of health workers refused to take the jabs; only a tiny percentage of the over-Sixties have actually registered; with 90% of the population being illiterate, most people remain skeptical of the vaccine because of the lack of information.


 Being a poor country we do not have the infrastructure for freezers for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.


 This means we have access currently to only the Chinese vaccines – Sinopharm and CanSino. The Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, is soon to be offered. 





 I have spent several hours reading articles and medical reports trying to assess and understand the efficacy of vaccines. 


 I've come to the conclusion that any available vaccine will 100% protect me from hospitalization or death due to COVID.


So I await my shot eagerly.

Our Prime Minister, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, took the vaccine last week. However, Pakistan is currently in the midst of its third wave. 


 Most of the cases are in Punjab and the provinces up North. Sindh, where Karachi is situated, is not as bad but we have to keep our guard up. 





 We went out to have a celebratory meal for my mother-in-law’s 87th birthday but felt uncomfortable despite the outdoor open seating.


The tables were too tightly packed together and we ended up leaving early. 


 Just a month or so ago it was announced that Burnes Road in Karachi - known for its food stalls and delicious local cuisine - would be pedestrianized and made into a food street at night. 




Karachi Literature Festival, which is one of the highlights of the year for me, began as usual. 


Last year there was an air of festivity about.


But this time it will be an entirely virtual event. As one of the main organizers said, "The show must go on."  I guess it is better than canceling or postponing the event. 
 
 Reflecting back it’s been a year since the pandemic was officially declared. 




 For a person who had itchy feet about staying home, I now find a great amount of solace in my own space where I don’t need to worry about wearing masks, or being too close to people. 


 I have been meeting small groups of friends but I don’t think I miss the large social gatherings anymore. 


 I do want to feel less paranoid though every time I step outside the house, and for that, there is some hope with the start of the vaccination process. 


 I doubt Pakistan will ever achieve herd immunity or get more than perhaps 20% of its population vaccinated. Once my extended friend circle and I are vaccinated I look forward to resuming some kind of ‘normal’ life again. 


 Though the word ‘normal’ will take on an entirely new meaning.

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