Vikrant Shekhawat : Jun 02, 2021, 04:42 PM
In the midst of the Corona crisis, where the vaccination campaign is being run on a war footing, fear, superstition and rumors about the vaccine in rural areas of the country can put this campaign in tatters. The government is aiming to vaccinate the entire adult population of India by December, but the situation on the ground is different. People from many rural areas are opposing this campaign. Reports of side effects due to vaccination and deaths even after taking doses have fueled the rumors that the Kovid vaccine is lethal.In such a situation, 'Aaj Tak' reached some remote areas of the country to find out the reason behind vaccine phobia and tried to know why fear, superstition and rumors are spreading about the vaccine.The Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan has launched an ambitious plan to check the spread of COVID in rural areas. But even now, various rumors are coming out among the villagers regarding vaccination, due to which difficulties are being faced in the vaccination campaign. Chief Minister Gehlot's hometown Jodhpur is also facing the same rumours.There is a strange silence in Shergarh village here, where the death of a priest due to Kovid has left the villagers restless. Munni Devi was the local Bhupa (a community singing folk deities) who prayed to the deities for a cure for diseases during epidemics. The villagers wonder how Munni Devi, who had 'special powers', was also defeated by the virus.
Rumors of death due to vaccinationMadan Singh, the sarpanch representative of Shergarh village, said, "She (Munni Devi) used to perform rituals to please the deities, she thought that the gods would save her and did not go for the test. Her condition deteriorated after that." Let us inform that there have been more than 80 deaths due to Kovid in Shergarh block, but people are still opposing the vaccination campaign here."Those who got the vaccine, died," says Chalaram, the Thanedar. That's why about 30-35 families, including me, have not taken the vaccine." While Chalaram's wife, says, "I do not have any disease, so why should I take the vaccine? All those who took the vaccine have fallen ill.” Other villagers like Teesta Devi and Nimaram also agree with the same view. Neemram says, “I am a labourer. I go to work. I don’t know if anyone came for corona test or not. But I heard that all the people who took the vaccine have died, so I didn’t take it. "If we talk about Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, then in many rural areas people were seen running away from vaccination, although queues were seen in urban areas. The vaccination process in rural areas has not yet gained momentum.Pakara reached Bazargaon near Lucknow, where vaccination was going on at the local primary health centre. The interesting thing is that rural people came here less, most of the people who got the vaccine were from Lucknow. On this issue, Medical Officer Dr Shalini said that most of the villagers are afraid of taking the vaccine and have their own misconceptions about it. He said that most of the families here have lost many loved ones during the second wave of Covid and now they believe that their lives may be in danger after taking the vaccine.35-year-old Pooja, who lives right next to the local PHC, told Aaj Tak, "My husband and I will not take the vaccine. It is harmful and can kill us."At the same time, 25-year-old Ayush Shukla said, "I have heard from the villagers that after taking the vaccine, people get fever and some even die. I am not ready to take the vaccine yet and whether to take the vaccine or not. But it will take time to decide." Another villager, Hiralal (40), says that he is fine, he does not need to be vaccinated.At the same time, 30-year-old Bhupendra Singh said, "Some people had died after taking the vaccine before, which has created fear. Sharing of misinformation on WhatsApp is also a major reason for hesitation to take the vaccine."In Madhya Pradesh, let alone rural areas, there is mistrust of the vaccine even among those living in urban areas of big cities. 'Aaj Tak' went to Ratibad village near Bhopal and found that there is hesitation about the vaccine here too.Lokesh, an educated businessman here, says that his father's condition had deteriorated after getting vaccinated, although he recovered after about 20 days. Lokesh says that is the reason why he is scared of it. At the same time, contractor Gagan and agricultural laborer Sunil have also stayed away from vaccination. He says that whoever is taking the vaccine is falling ill.
Around 5,000 people have been vaccinated so far in two vaccination centers in Ratibad. But the fear of the rumors spreading about the vaccine has gripped the village and the rumors have stopped the pace of vaccination itself.Aman Kumar, 18, a resident of Kariyat village in Bihar's Saharsa district, openly opposes vaccination. Many other people of this village with a population of one and a half thousand have the same opinion. Aman believes that getting vaccinated can lead to death. He said, "I myself have not vaccinated against corona because there are many examples of people dying after getting the vaccine."
Rumors of death due to vaccinationMadan Singh, the sarpanch representative of Shergarh village, said, "She (Munni Devi) used to perform rituals to please the deities, she thought that the gods would save her and did not go for the test. Her condition deteriorated after that." Let us inform that there have been more than 80 deaths due to Kovid in Shergarh block, but people are still opposing the vaccination campaign here."Those who got the vaccine, died," says Chalaram, the Thanedar. That's why about 30-35 families, including me, have not taken the vaccine." While Chalaram's wife, says, "I do not have any disease, so why should I take the vaccine? All those who took the vaccine have fallen ill.” Other villagers like Teesta Devi and Nimaram also agree with the same view. Neemram says, “I am a labourer. I go to work. I don’t know if anyone came for corona test or not. But I heard that all the people who took the vaccine have died, so I didn’t take it. "If we talk about Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, then in many rural areas people were seen running away from vaccination, although queues were seen in urban areas. The vaccination process in rural areas has not yet gained momentum.Pakara reached Bazargaon near Lucknow, where vaccination was going on at the local primary health centre. The interesting thing is that rural people came here less, most of the people who got the vaccine were from Lucknow. On this issue, Medical Officer Dr Shalini said that most of the villagers are afraid of taking the vaccine and have their own misconceptions about it. He said that most of the families here have lost many loved ones during the second wave of Covid and now they believe that their lives may be in danger after taking the vaccine.35-year-old Pooja, who lives right next to the local PHC, told Aaj Tak, "My husband and I will not take the vaccine. It is harmful and can kill us."At the same time, 25-year-old Ayush Shukla said, "I have heard from the villagers that after taking the vaccine, people get fever and some even die. I am not ready to take the vaccine yet and whether to take the vaccine or not. But it will take time to decide." Another villager, Hiralal (40), says that he is fine, he does not need to be vaccinated.At the same time, 30-year-old Bhupendra Singh said, "Some people had died after taking the vaccine before, which has created fear. Sharing of misinformation on WhatsApp is also a major reason for hesitation to take the vaccine."In Madhya Pradesh, let alone rural areas, there is mistrust of the vaccine even among those living in urban areas of big cities. 'Aaj Tak' went to Ratibad village near Bhopal and found that there is hesitation about the vaccine here too.Lokesh, an educated businessman here, says that his father's condition had deteriorated after getting vaccinated, although he recovered after about 20 days. Lokesh says that is the reason why he is scared of it. At the same time, contractor Gagan and agricultural laborer Sunil have also stayed away from vaccination. He says that whoever is taking the vaccine is falling ill.
Around 5,000 people have been vaccinated so far in two vaccination centers in Ratibad. But the fear of the rumors spreading about the vaccine has gripped the village and the rumors have stopped the pace of vaccination itself.Aman Kumar, 18, a resident of Kariyat village in Bihar's Saharsa district, openly opposes vaccination. Many other people of this village with a population of one and a half thousand have the same opinion. Aman believes that getting vaccinated can lead to death. He said, "I myself have not vaccinated against corona because there are many examples of people dying after getting the vaccine."