All through the pandemic, each time head constable Bhikaji Khadapkar, would leave for duty, his wife would say a small prayer: God, keep him safe from the virus. “His job involves law enforcement and crowd control, so it’s high-risk. Of course, he wears the mask, but that can’t guarantee foolproof protection,” she says. Two weeks ago, Khadapkar got his first vaccine jab against COVID-19. And, that he says has taken the weight off Snehal’s shoulders, although she’s not yet eligible for the vaccine and neither are their two children, both in their 20s. Her 75-year-old mother-in-law who lives with them is also yet to receive the vaccine. Registration for vaccination for those above 60 years kicks off on March 1. 

Currently, the city has 28 active vaccination centres in operation. “For now, I’m happy that at least one of us is in a safer place,” she says. Khadapkar is honest when he says that while taking the shot was mandatory for frontline workers like himself, he would’ve taken it even if the choice was left to him. Unlike many recipients who have experienced mild and moderate reactions, such as pain at the injection site, headache, high-grade fever, malaise and fatigue, Khadapkar says he’s come out of it relatively comfortably.