THE reality of the death of former Director of the Department of Public Information (DPI), Imran Khan, is still being grappled with. He died at the National Infectious Disease Hospital from COVID-19. The death of anyone is sad and extremely painful for surviving family members, relatives, friends and colleagues. According to reports, Khan was healthy, suffered no underlying conditions and reportedly, he was unvaccinated against COVID-19.

An online news entity reported that a former senior official, who was Khan’s boss, being shocked not just at his passing but by him being unvaccinated. In that report, the official stated his surprise over someone of Khan’s stature would choose not to be vaccinated. It is also reported that Khan’s wife was hospitalised with COVID-19 and may also be unvaccinated.

Over the weeks, there has been an increased in the number of COVID-19 cases here as well as related deaths. Glaring, except for a miniscule percentage, is that the deaths are among unvaccinated persons. To date, over 770 persons have died from COVID19. Sadly, and even tragically, there are still persons in society who are vociferous in their advocacy against COVID-19 vaccination.

Some of the leading anti-vaxers, as they are referred, are Khan’s former colleagues and associates. While it is common courtesy to not disparage the dead, in these extremely challenging circumstances of a global pandemic, persons with influence and who opposed efforts to have people protected, cannot go unnoticed.

Many with tremendous influence across the world and who vehemently tried to deny the existence of COVID-19 either contracted it or died from it. Many who were unvaccinated, became hospitalised and survived, publicly regretted their decisions, including advocates of, “My body, my choice”.
Recently, there was a call for a shutdown of Region 10 on the grounds of having a right to choose with regard to COVID-19 vaccination. While we all have choices, we must be responsible, especially those with influence.

This has been said over and over, but yet, either for machoism or for political show, or both, unfortunately, the advocacy by some against COVID-19 vaccination, continues.

This can only be seen as a deliberate attempt at putting people’s lives at risk. Reportedly, Khan supported that call and related misinformation over the vital vaccination process against the ongoing pandemic.

His death is indeed shocking and extremely sad. Following the news of his hospitalisation, there was much optimism for his speedy recovery. Only Sunday last, through a post on his Facebook page, he vowed to fight giving much hope to family and friends. The pain they now feel is unimaginable. One can only hope that the tragic and painful lessons will be heeded.

If his unvaccinated status is true and for whatever reason he chose that path, the hope is that all will see and advocate the value of the COVID-19 vaccines to help save lives. Vaccines do save lives and there is provision for those who are medically exempted.

Given the devastation to lives and economies across the world, with regard to the former, it raises an important question: how many more have to die before the message is heeded? How much more pain and loss would it take? Having a choice is one thing, endangering lives is another. At no point in time did the opposition or the Guyanese public had reason to be dissatisfied over the availability of first doses of vaccines.

That speaks to not just the management of the process by the government, but also the priority it places on the safety of the people. In these situation, each is expected to play his/her part; at the least, a demonstration of a sense of responsibility. If only those with influence and who misuse it would so endeavour, many lives could have and would be saved.

The best tribute to Khan would therefore be for his colleagues to work in the best interest of others to help avoid COVID-related deaths as a result of an unvaccinated status.