Folks, take it easy: Iffat Omar responds to furore on getting vaccine out of turn

Omar was called out for getting the jab out of turn while many deserving recipients wait

The vaccination process in Pakistan has been under severe scrutiny since it first began. Senior citizens over the age of 60 are being prioritised to receive the first and second dose as instructed by the government. However, a recent episode involving Federal Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema proves privilege trumps rights in some cases.

A video of the minister and his family getting vaccinated went viral on social media. While many lashed out at Cheema for getting his family members and dear ones vaccinated out of turn, one of the recipients of the jab was veteran actor Iffat Omar.

A tweet pointed out, "This lady is neither a frontline health worker nor above 60 years of age. She is leading actor Iffat Omar who criticises the government, which is fine but talks about ethics too." The user added, "In this picture, she is being vaccinated for Covid. How is that? Where are her ethics and principles now?"

This lady is neither a front line health worker nor above 60 years of age. She is a leading actress Omar Iffat who criticises the govt which is fine but talks about ethics too. In this pic she is being vaccinated for covid ...
Where are her ethics and principles now? #مارخورز pic.twitter.com/wcrRymgC3o

— Dauran Baloch (@DauranBalochGTV) March 31, 2021

Others asked Omar to check her privilege.

The outrage

"Meet Iffat Omar. She talks about rule of law, honesty and what not and was the first one to jump the queue and get herself vaccinated!" wrote a user on social media.

Meet Iffat Omar. She talks about rule of law, honesty and what not and was the first one to jump queue and get herself vaccinated! pic.twitter.com/cebrECklt5

— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) March 29, 2021

"This is Iffat Omar telling us about integrity and ethics every other day. Preach what you follow," added another, while one more remarked, "I used to like Iffat Omar. But quite disappointed in her jumping the queue to get her vaccine. And then lying about it after first advertising it.”

This is Iffat Omar telling us about integrity and ethics every other day. PREACH WHAT YOU FOLLOW pic.twitter.com/NWjB9ooUG0

— Iqra Nasir (@IamIqraNasir) March 29, 2021

I used to like Iffat Omar. But quite disappointed in her jumping the queue to get her vaccine. And then lying about it after first advertising it.

Just remember every time someone jumps the queue he/she deprived an elderly person or healthcare worker more at risk to die from it.

— Ayesha Ijaz Khan (@ayeshaijazkhan) March 29, 2021

A user lamented, "Just remember every time someone jumps the queue, he/she deprives an elderly person or healthcare worker who is at more risk to die from it." A furious post read, "I sincerely hope our ‘celebrities’ speak about Iffat Omar queue jumping for her vaccine, while millions of vulnerable people continue to live in never-ending anxiety, waiting for their turn.”

I sincerely hope our "celebrities" speak about Iffat Omar queue jumping for her vaccine, while millions of vulnerable people continue to live in never-ending anxiety, waiting for their turn. If they really are "influencers", they should do the right thing and speak up.

— Vaccine Baji (@BajiVaccine) March 30, 2021

One more user penned, "If they really are ‘influencers’, they should do the right thing and speak up." Another noted, "A minister gets his entire family vaccinated in Punjab with actor Iffat Omar and doctors, frontline workers and people above 60 are still waiting for their turn."

Soon after the backlash, Omar responded in a now-deleted tweet. The actor shared the vaccine she received was a trial one. "This was a booster shot of a Cansino (trial) vaccine received from UHS who also provided the previous shot. It's not illegal or privilege," she had written.

She deleted this tweet: pic.twitter.com/AzvOokRGch

— Hasan Saeed (@hasansaeed6) March 29, 2021

However, her explanation didn't sit well with many and rightfully so. The trial vaccines are generally not available for mass usage if it is in an experimental stage. It would be daft to think that it would be available for private use. Another reason the actor was called out for her explanation was the reason that the trial for the CanSino vaccine had reportedly concluded earlier.

The ruckus continues

"I expect and demand an apology from Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema. First, he along with his family did an immoral thing, and then he had the audacity to lie about it calling it a trial shot," a user shared.

Another added, "CanSino is a single-shot vaccine. Trials are conducted at hospitals, it's a double-blind study. You don't get to know if you're being given the vaccine or placebo in a trial. I'd say accept that you've jumped the queue and apologise."

Cansino is a single shot vaccine. Trials are conducted at hospitals, it's a double blind study. You don't get to know if you're being given the vaccine or placebo in a trial. I'd say accept that you've jumped queue and apologise.

— Nadia (@novocainerush) March 29, 2021

But the buffoonery didn't end there. Omar, after the deleted tweet, decided to ask people to “take it easy” with the outrage.

Folks - take it easy! pic.twitter.com/EdhZccgFMK

— Iffat Omar Official (@OmarIffat) March 29, 2021

Celebrities should possibly respond more responsibly when they are rightfully called out for something problematic, instead of making a mockery out of the furore their privilege might have caused in the first place. The Express Tribune reached out to Iffat Omar but she declined to comment at this stage.

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