What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: As India celebrated the 100 Crore vaccine dose mark last week, The New Indian reached out to the first ever COVID patient of the national capital, Rohan Dutta to ask him what he thought of the ongoing progress as far as the pandemic was concerned. Please watch the video to view this candid conversation.
Anmol Singla, The New Indian:
Welcome Rohit Dutta, you hold the unique portfolio of being Delhi’s first COVID patient and you have inadvertently inspired a lot of people by recovering from this terrible disease. My first question to you is, when The New Indian spoke to Bharat Biotech chairman and MD, Dr. Krishna Ella, he revealed that there would be a nasal COVID vaccine releasing in January next year, which would probably help us get rid of the masks finally, what do you have to say about that,
Rohit Dutta:
It is a very good step actually, we were expecting it to be coming somewhere in November, December, but even then, I hope it comes very, very soon. And children at least can go to schools.
The New Indian:
Your children who are probably unvaccinated are obviously looking forward to vaccines for children.
Dutta:
Yeah, we are looking forward we understood that few other vaccine companies have coming in, in this year only for children. Like we all hear from newspapers, we are looking forward to get them vaccinated and just let them be normal, going to school, going to play without masks.
The New Indian:
Are you looking forward to putting this history of COVID behind you and begin a new journey finally.
Dutta:
A new journey already started when I was out from the hospital. So it is just now phases which are coming out like we’re seeing covid erupt after a few months. It definitely looks like it is going to be pass this time and things would be over very soon.
The New Indian:
With the festival season approaching. The New Year is coming. Christmas is coming. What advice do you have for children and adults?
Dutta:
The only advice is to please be safe. Very carefully look at the numbers. If it grows, please be safe. Wear proper masks, social distancing, avoid a lot of crowding. That is the only thing.
The New Indian:
People have already started taking masks casually and now that nasal vaccines might just remove them permanently. Would you encourage that because I mean, I guess you might have a little bit of paranoia with your experience that masks should not be removed until, we are definitely certain that COVID has escaped our lives.
Dutta:
Actually, I generally do what my government tells me when they tell me to wear masks, I wear masks, so even when I’m alone at the road, I try to wear a mask. So let the government authorities comment on this. I am not the right person, I can only tell: Please obey the rules. It is for the benefit of our generation and future generations as well.
The New Indian:
Last week India reached the landmark of 1 billion vaccine shots, 100 Crore vaccine shots. Did you think that India was logistically capable of reaching this landmark this quickly?
Dutta:
Honestly, I was very sure that we will do what very less countries can do. The reason is that see, we see elections happening in India, which in itself is something very less countries can do that. But it would happen so soon, because we have a lot of people who are reluctant also for going for the vaccines. Even now, you’ll find people who are not vaccinating because they think they are invincible. But it is commendable that we have done it so fast. I had expected it to be over somewhere by December. But it is a really very good job. And kudos to all the medical fraternity for that.
The New Indian:
There was a lot of backlash by critics regarding Covaxin especially because it is an indigenous vaccine and people said that because it was made in India, it wouldn’t do that well.
Dutta:
I fully back Covaxin. Our Honourable Prime Minister had taken Covaxin himself. So there is no doubt about it. All the doctors, especially in the AIIMS. They all have taken Covaxin. So there is nothing to be afraid of. WHO also will approve it very soon. I understand it will be happening somewhere this month only they are working on it.
The New Indian:
Rohit Dutta you had initially caught the infection by travelling with your family to Italy and might I say the rest is history. But now are you looking forward to international travel again with your family?
Dutta:
Oh yes surely see, life will never stop. It will stop only once. You get bowled out in cricket so many times but you don’t stop playing cricket. So it is just like that. ‘Bukhar aata hai, Bukhar jaata hai‘. There are equally bad things like, Dengue and chicken guinea. Delhi specially has been facing all these things. So, it is just mindset, you’ll have seen people already are forgetting COVID by not wearing masks and have taken it casually. So one has to forget. I look forward to international vacation soon.
The New Indian:
Thank you so much, Rohit Dutta. This was Rohit Dutta, the capital’s first COVID case.
