Free utensils for those who get the jab: a Kallakurichi man’s efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccination

R. Thambudurai, a 30-year-old studio photographer, decided to launch the initiative from his own savings, as many of his neighbours were not taking the vaccine

Unhappy over the lukewarm response from people to the government’s appeal to get the COVID-19 vaccine, a resident of the district hit upon a strategy to offer incentives to eligible persons who received the jab. R. Thambidurai, 30, a studio photographer from M. Kunnathur village in Ulundurpet taluk offered incentives in the form of utensils to people who got themselves vaccinated. The response was overwhelming, and around 94 persons from his village took the jab in a special camp held in the village on Monday. Mr. Thambidurai said that his aim was to reach out to local residents and convince them about the need to get vaccinated to protect themselves.