100-year-old woman receives Covid-19 vaccine jab in Mumbai
India: Shashikala Joshi has seen a lot in her lifetime. In the past 100 years, she has lived through a world war and now she has also lived during a pandemic and has received the first jab of Covid-19 vaccine.
On March 5, as she took her first dose of the vaccine at Cama and Albless Hospital in Mumbai, she was the centre of attention.
A resident of Churchgate in Mumbai, Joshi even refused to take the wheelchair and insisted on walking for the registration. This September, the centenarian will turn 101.
“She has always led a disciplined life. She has been a vegetarian throughout her life and has been regular at her walks as well. Even at this age, she is active and goes to the kitchen and hasn’t lost interest in food or life.” says Shashikala’s 75-year-old daughter Meena Deshpande, who herself took the first jab.
Meena adds that her mother regularly watches news on television and knew all along that the vaccination drive had started for senior citizens. “Our family members wanted her to go and get the vaccine. For the last one year, we had been restricting visitors and now we are relieved as we can finally allow visitors.”
When asked if her mother had been scared of vaccination, Meena Deshpande said, “The entire morning she kept asking me if it’s safe and I told her there is nothing to worry about. She’s fine and I am so happy that we took the decision,” she said.