Chennai (Tamil Nadu): "Stab us with a knife if you want but do not administer vaccines. We eat crow and egret meat. We will not contract to COVID-19", was the reply from the Narikkuravar (nomadic) community in a sleepy colony situated near Tirunelveli town after the health officials tried to vaccinate the members of the community. The reply had stunned health officials who are now wondering what other methods would convince this community to get their jabs.
All the government hospitals and sub-hospitals in the district have been instructed to carry out special vaccination camps to contain COVID19 spread. So, a health team led by City Health Officer (CHO), Saroja had reached Pettai, a Narikkuravar colony near the town to carry out vaccination. However, people were reluctant and they strongly refused to get vaccinated, dampening their enthusiasm. "This is a clear indication that there is no awareness among them about COVID-19 and vaccination. There is a strong fear that vaccination is harmful and rumours are spreading in social media that two people who were administered with vaccines died", said an official.
Mustering courage and hope, the officials continued to persuade the people to get vaccinated. The CHO explained to the people that she herself got vaccinated twice. Similarly, all the health officials including nurses had done the same. She assured them that they will not suffer any adverse events.
However, the Narikkurava people refused to budge. "We eat crow and egret meat so that we will not get infected by COVID-19," they stressed. At a time when there has been strong awareness over COVID and vaccination, such an incident has triggered a shock and debate among the stakeholders including health officials.
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A similar incident was reported in the Trichy district where the villagers asked health officials not to enter their villages to vaccinate them. Officials said that Uppiliyapuram Panchayat Union, located at Pachamalai foothills, coming under Thuraiyur block in Trichy district has about 16 villages where over 4,000 people are living and they are mostly engaged in agriculture. Since last March, a four-member team consisting of health officials are pressed into administering vaccines to the people living in the villages. "Moreover, health staff including nurses have been conducting door to door visits to carry out vaccination. Since awareness about COVID-19 and vaccination has not reached out to such people, the district administration conducted an awareness programme a few weeks ago in these villages. Yet, there is no faith in taking vaccination among the people", said an official.
Another challenge is that many of them are not available during the day since they go to work and the health team trying to reach out later in the evenings don't get a warm reception. "A large number of people, who had gone for work, return to their homes during night time. So, we are reaching their homes and knocking on doors only to explain about the vaccination. However, we are threatened by them" said a staff nurse. The frustrated staffers feel that there should be a stricter warning from the government like withholding ration items or government assistance if people fail to take jabs.
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