Mysuru: The tribal people are hesitant to get the covid vaccine and persuading them has become a big challenge for the authorities and people's representatives.
Even in the 21st century, tribal people living in the midst of forests, away from the modern world, are always away from hospitals.
Why hesitate to get a vaccine?
Many tribes are inhabiting few parts of Mysuru, Kodagu and Chamarajanagar district. Most of them are illiterate and are less likely to come to hospitals. In case of disease, they cure it by using herbs found in the forest.
The important thing is that they are afraid of injection and eating the pill. Similarly, if the tribals get sick, they do not use an ambulance to come to the city instead they use rental cars. They consider an ambulance as a vehicle that only brings dead bodies.
Covid cases not detected
No one among these tribals is infected by the coronavirus. These tribals live for more than 100 years and are less likely to have diabetes, hypertension, BP, heart attacks etc. Such problems are often not found among them as they only eat natural food.
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They are afraid of covid vaccine as it is in the form of injection. Being illiterate, they quickly believe the fake news about the vaccine on the internet, Jagdish, the leader of the tribals said.
HV Manjunath, a local MLA, accompanied the authorities to the tribal area and tried to persuade them. But, tribals are saying they don't want the vaccine.
"We and our children are taking medicine that is in the forest and we do not require the vaccine," the tribals said.
