Three doctors spoke to The Telegraph on the eve of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Here are their views:

Will take the vaccine

Sengupta Telegraph picture

Arunabha Sengupta, 65, professor of ENT at SSKM Hospital: I have been informed by the health department that I will get Covid-19 vaccine on Saturday. I am very happy. I will definitely take the vaccine and request everyone else to take it.

There are some people, including a few doctors I know, who are saying they don’t want to take the Covid vaccine in the first phase fearing adverse reactions. But as health-care workers, we should know that most drugs, including some of the commonest ones like paracetamol and vitamin pills, can trigger adverse effects. But does that stop us from having these medicines?

I have spoken to two of my students who are doctors in the UK and who have taken Covishield. Both said they didn’t have any side-effect and urged me to take the vaccine. I have suffered from severe Covid infection and underwent physical and mental trauma. I was admitted to AMRI Salt Lake on May 11 and was in the intensive care unit for 18 days.

The unit had four beds, and the other three Covid patients had died. My condition had turned critical, too.

I could not see patients for a month after returning home. I don’t want to go through that trauma again and so I want to take the vaccine. I have co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and COPD. Next time I have Covid, it can be fatal.

Basu Telegraph picture

Will make way for another

Dulal Basu, 77, ENT surgeon: I had tested positive for Covid on October 22 and was admitted to Peerless Hospital for 10 days. Recently, I got tested for Covid antibody and the levels were quite high. So, I can do without a vaccine for maybe a month or two. That is why I decided not to take the vaccine in this phase.

I feel that everyone should take a Covid-19 vaccine as that is the most effective way to fight the pandemic.

Since I have developed strong antibodies against Covid, I want to make way for a colleague who has not been infected by the virus. I have heard limited doses of the vaccine have arrived and so it will be unethical of me to get the vaccine now despite knowing that I have developed antibodies.

My colleagues, especially those who are treating Covid patients, should get priority. So many of them have sacrificed their family lives for all these months. Many have elderly parents and children at home but still they are discharging their duties in Covid wards.

Many people are talking about side-effects. I think there is no reason for concern as data reveals the reactions are mostly not severe.

lso, the vaccine will be administered under medical surveillance. So, any adverse effect will be dealt with immediately.I will get another antibody test done after a month. If I see the levels have fallen, I will take the vaccine.

Sarkar Telegraph picture

Wants a choice

Ajoy Krishna Sarkar, 62, respiratory and critical care expert: Till Friday evening, I did not receive any message from the health department about when I will get the vaccine. Once I get the message, I will take Covishield on the designated day. But I also want to know why will there not be multiple vaccines to choose from?

There will be many who want to pay and get vaccinated. Given a chance, I would have gone for a vaccine whose efficacy is more than Covishield.

I had suffered from Covid and had almost collapsed in my home. I was in the hospital for 13 days. I had experienced the severity of Covid-19 infection and would definitely take Covishield because that is the only available option for the time being. But once other vaccines with more efficacy are available, I will again get myself vaccinated.

I want to make it clear that I am not doubting the quality of the vaccine that is being given.

Many people are raising doubts about these vaccines because approvals came in less than a year after trials began. Usually, it takes almost 10 years to get a vaccine. But we must not forget the world had not seen a pandemic like this. So, huge funds were made available for development of Covid-19 vaccines.

All vaccines have undergone proper trials for safety and efficacy.