panaji healthcare workers led from the front on saturday as they enthusiastically volunteered to get vaccinated setting an example for their staff and the community to follow suit this is the way forward we waited for the vaccine and now it has come its the only way out of the pandemic medical superintendent of the south goa district hospital dr deepa correia afonso told toi after getting vaccinatedat present nobody knows whether there is any other way out everyday there are around 100 new covid19 infections reported in the state theres no better example than us being the first to take the vaccine she said the very first healthcare worker who received the vaccine at south goa district hospitals covid vaccination centre at the t b hospital on saturday said she did it not just for herself but for the community its not only for my personal protection but for my family patients and community i interact with it was a relatively painless procedure im not worried about side effects they could happen with any vaccine nodal officer of the vaccination site and head of paediatrics department at south goa district hospital dr ira almeida said the vaccinator almeida said is the hospitals experienced auxiliary nurse midwife who has been administering vaccines for years and has been trained in all safe procedures and techniques in giving vaccinations another healthcare worker who was among the first to receive the vaccine medical officer arsy rebello said the benefits outweigh any risks there are benefits for me and my family the side effects are only hype that has been created she told toi another senior healthcare worker from hospicio hospital who was vaccinated said it was something better than nothing in these grim times i hope i transfer the benefits to my family and hope my vaccination helps them develop herd immunity he said when asked about having to continue to follow all covid protocols like other nonvaccinated persons despite taking the vaccine he said this is a new way of life ive accepted it a young radiographer at hospicio hospital saish gurav said he will be relieved after he gets the second dose on february 13 i used to isolate myself from my family in a separate room as i feared for their safety during the past months i was very happy to receive the vaccine my family encouraged me he said