Why tribal population is Covid-19 vaccine-hesitant

An elderly woman gets vaccinated in Jawhar taluka. Pics/Hanif Patel

Even as Cyclone Tauktae badly hit the tribal-dominated talukas of Palghar district, suspending its vaccination drive, the local health machinery is challenged by a more formidable adversary - vaccine hesitancy. Healthcare workers have cited helplessness in getting tribals inoculated as people believe that getting the vaccine will give them Covid-19. The problem is so acute that even the sitting MLA from Dahanu did not turn up for the inauguration of a centre out of fear of being vaccinated.

A woman gets vaccinated in Mokhada taluka

Additional District Health Officer (ADHO) Dr. Milind Chavan and DHO Dr. Dayanand Suryawanshi told mid-day that all Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Rural Hospitals (RHs) and halls of private companies in the district have been converted into vaccination centres.

Dr. Chavan said, "There are 83 vaccination centres in tribal-dominated talukas including Jawhar, Mokhada, Vikramgarh, Talasari, Dahanu, Palghar and Wada, excluding Vasai. The total population of tribals in Palghar district is over 17 lakh."

"Till date, we have managed to vaccinate 2.60 lakh tribals aged 45 years and above and 33,000 people who fall in the age bracket of 18 and 44 years. The latter's vaccination has been stopped till further orders from the state government. Our target is to vaccinate eight lakh tribals above the age of 45," Dr. Chavan said, adding, "But they are not turning up at the centres, the turnout is less."

A source at the Palghar Zila Parishad told mid-day that the sitting MLA from Dahanu, Vinod Nikole, too, did not turn up to get the vaccine.

"Nikole was invited by the Block Development Officer (BDO) to inaugurate a vaccination centre at the PHC of Amgaon in Talasari. He was told that after the inauguration, he will be given the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. His photograph taking the vaccine would have helped encourage tribals," said the source.

The district administration is trying to spread awareness by reaching out to sarpanches through webinars

"But Nikole did not turn up fearing the vaccination. He is a public figure, he should have come forward," the source said. mid-day's calls and messages to Nikole went unanswered.

The chairman of a central government-appointed committee to look into the status of schemes for tribals in Maharashtra, Vivek Pandit, said, "The literacy rate is low. They do not have faith in the healthcare system and the state government has not started an awareness campaign in the tribal area, yet. This is why they are scared of the vaccine."

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Pandit also said that the online booking for appointments is a farce as there's no mobile network in tribal areas. "Tribals hardly use smartphones. How will they book vaccines online? Those who do own them have no network," Pandit said.

Walking 10 km for a shot

During a spot visit to the tribal villages, a tribal, Ajay Bendkoli from Kawalpada village in Mokhada taluka, told mid-day, "We don't know what Covid-19 is, why would we take a vaccine for it?"

Pandurang Mala, the sarpanch of Khoch village, said, "The nearest PHC is in Vashala, at least 10 km from Bedukpada village." Khoch is another 7 km away from Bedukpada. "Why would people travel such long distances to get a vaccine?" Malak said.

A vaccination centre in Jawhar taluka

"The lack of transport is another reason behind tribals not getting the shots. They have to either take their motorcycles or walk or spend on transport. Why would an elderly person take such pains to get vaccinated? There should be a door-to-door service," a source said.

Sources in the health department also said that tribals often escape to the jungles when health workers visit for check-ups or Covid-19 testing. "This discourages our workers on the ground, who travel long distances to reach the tribals," a source said.

Citing yet another reason for a low turnout at vaccination centres, Dr. Suryawanshi said that most of the tribals believe that they will get infected after taking the shot. "Generally, people fall sick due to the side-effects of vaccines. Tribals consider that as getting infected with the virus itself. Hence, they are not coming to vaccination centres," Dr. Suryawanshi said.

Efforts at awareness

"Since tribals have no information on the disease, our field workers are visiting different talukas in Maharashtra and with the help of megaphones or loudspeakers, spreading awareness about the pandemic and the steps to take to safeguard themselves," Pandit said.

DHO Dr. Suryawanshi said, "We have identified a group of adolescents in the tribal belt as Covid-19 volunteers. With their help, we will address early detection of Covid-19 and vaccination."

Lack of transport, apart from misconceptions, is a major deterrent behind people not visiting health and vaccination centres in the tribal belt

"We will also take the help of ASHA and Anganwadi workers as they are locals and are connected to the residents. Our priority is to know all the reasons that are making people hesitant about taking vaccines," Dr. Suryawanshi added.

The Zila Parishad office has also sent letters to all sarpanches in tribal areas to join a webinar on Facebook where they would be taught the importance of social distancing, wearing masks in public places, hand washing and other Covid-19 protocols. Such an event was held by the district administration earlier, too. Dr. Suryawanshi added that the PHCs are equipped with internet and sarpanches can join the webinars there. The internet also allows for spot registration for those who walk in for the vaccine.

"We are conducting a webinar with all sarpanches. They have been asked to encourage villagers to strictly adhere to Covid-19 rules. Earlier, all sarpanches were hiding. But the webinar would be helpful," said a source in the health department.

With the power supply snapped, the vaccination drive will resume in the tribal belt when the restoration of collapsed electric poles is complete.

33
No. of people (in thousands) vaccinated in 18-44 age group

83
No. vaccination centres across Palghar's 7 talukas