People in some rural areas resisting vaccination, say U.P. officials

A range of misconceptions circulating about their side-effects, say officials

Getting people to take COVID-19 vaccine shots in some parts of rural Uttar Pradesh is proving to be a tough ask for officials allegedly due to a range of misconceptions circulating about their side-effects. In Barabanki district, adjoining Lucknow, when a team of Health Department officials had gone to a village for vaccination and awareness drive, a group of men and boys who had gathered on the banks of the Ghagra river fled after wading through the shallow waters or jumping into the stream upon seeing the officials. Though it is not confirmed if they were even eligible for the dose, a senior district official says they fled in fear that they could forcefully administered a dose. The officials then held an awareness camp in the village Sisaunda but only 14-15 persons got inoculated on the day, said SDM Ramnagar Rajeev Shukla. This was the story in several other villages, he said. “There is a lot of resistance among the villagers,” Mr. Shukla told The Hindu. Mr. Shukla said there is a standing misconception among a section that the vaccine will lead to illness and fever. To motivate people to get vaccinated and break their myths, the administration has deployed teams to spread awareness.