A campaign against vaccine hesitancy

About 35% of adult Indians have received at least one dose of the vaccine; of these, 27% have received a second shot, as well. The daily rate of vaccination hovers around 5.5 million mark. With supply improving and the rush for vaccines following the second wave receding, hesitancy is emerging as a challenge to achieving herd immunity. This is not just an India problem. Governments are faced with a problem of ensuring the health and safety of the people while respecting their right to choose to be vaccinated or not. France has found a way to strike this balance.

Only 43% of the French are fully inoculated. Now, the French government has made it mandatory for all health workers to be inoculated beginning September 15. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on July 14 that patrons at cafés, restaurants and other such public places will be required to produce a vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test report.

The tests are valid only for a couple of days and will need to be taken regularly for the unvaccinated. Vaccines are free, tests are expensive. India, too, needs to ramp up its persuasion skills if it is to minimise the impact of a new wave of Covid and meet its immunisation goal.


A mandatory RT-PCR test or vaccination certificate for entry to trains, metros, malls, restaurants, offices, banks, schools and other institutions would help limit the spread of the infection. Religious leaders could reach out to members of their community. Children of parents who are fully vaccinated could get a selfie with their favourite movie star, some charity or NGO footing the bill for their travel to the city. Very few of the vaccinated end up in a hospital, while the unvaccinated are more likely than not to stare at oxygen cylinders.