'Don't wait for disaster': Shehzad Roy urges people to get vaccinated against Covid

Singer Shehzad Roy took to Instagram to relay the dire consequences of not getting vaccinated on time. He shared a story of a man who decided to get the jab only after tragedy struck.

The singer, alongside actor Mahira Khan, has joined hands with the US Consulate in Karachi in an effort to promote Covid-19 vaccinations in Pakistan. Roy took to Instagram to share an anecdote about a man he encountered while campaigning to promote vaccines at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

"I met a person outside the JPMC Hall as Mahira Khan and I were invited by the US Consulate to promote [Covid-19] vaccinations," he wrote. "The person told me that he was strictly against it, but when a close family member died who was not vaccinated and his friend only got a mild disease after being vaccinated, he decided to get himself vaccinated as soon as possible."

For Roy, the man's tragic loss served as a valuable lesson for the rest of us. "Don't wait for a disaster," the singer implored. "We don't want Pakistan to be the last country on the map with Covid like polio."

Covid-19 vaccines help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get the disease. They also protect the people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19. However, despite the benefits, Pakistan has one of the lowest Covid vaccination rates in the world. Vaccine hesitancy, lack of awareness and conspiracy theories about the vaccines all contribute to the low vaccination rate.

Many celebrities, including Roy, have urged their followers to get vaccinated in order to lessen the severity of illness if one does test positive for Covid-19. Actor Ushna Shah, who previously tested positive for Covid-19, shared her experience as well. "I am a relatively healthy person with a strong immune system but the bug got through, and the symptoms are extremely unpleasant. I shudder to think what would have happened had I not been vaccinated," she had said. Shah urged everyone to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves as much as possible.

Take Roy's word for it — it is better to get vaccinated as soon as possible before "disaster" strikes. Your prompt decision will ensure the safety of both yourself and your loved ones!