Coronavirus | Tribals in Odisha flee villages fearing inoculation

Tribals in Odisha’s Rayagada district fled their village after locking up their homes afraid of being given the COVID-19 vaccine.

The incident occurred at Champakana underneath Kolnara block of Rayagada on Wednesday.

The district administration had held an consciousness camp explaining the advantages of inoculation.

“However, when our team reached the village with 100 doses for those above 45, it did not find anyone available. Four to five villagers were not ready to get the jab,” mentioned D. Sailaja, Kolnara medical officer.

Dr. Sailaja mentioned tribals belonging to the Kandh group had been apparently misled by some movies, which predicted loss of life inside two years of vaccination. The inhabitants of Champakana is 500. After three hours of persuasion involving the chieftain, three individuals got here ahead for inoculation.

“During the drive, we have faced similar situation in four to five villages. We hope the vaccine hesitancy will disappear,” she mentioned.

Earlier, the well being groups confronted stiff resistance in different villages too.

Hesitancy, a significant challenge

Hesitancy has been a significant challenge for the district administrations throughout the State. Last month, the Rayagada district administration needed to sit with the Dongria Kondhs, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, for days to make them conform to vaccination. Close to 1,000 Dongria Kondhs have up to now been administered the vaccine.

Similarly, Chuktia Bhunjia, one other PVTG residing in Sunabeda plateau Nuapada district, was troublesome to be satisfied on vaccination. The tribesmen mentioned they might die quickly after getting jab.

Odisha has up to now managed to manage the primary dose to 9,68,188 individuals aged between 18 and 44. Only 3,70,095 have acquired the second dose. While 54,34,038 individuals above 45 have been inoculated, 11,22,935 have been given the second dose.