Fight ignorance with genuine information to end vaccine hesitancy

New diseases are often accompanied by misconceptions, superstitions and rhetoric. During the 1974 smallpox epidemic of India, in the rural areas it was believed it to be the wrath of a local goddess, ‘Sheetla Mata’. Even today, if someone is infected with smallpox, people claim that the goddess is upset with the infected person, and that they should worship her to get rid of the disease. Today, when the entire world is faced with the challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic, rumours and misconceptions associated with this novel virus have made the fight even more difficult. The rural areas are often disconnected from information and awareness due to inaccessibility to correct, timely information. Women, owing to their restricted mobility, are worse off, made to rely on information provided by men in the family. The ones who are literate and aware are often neglected by their families and forced to follow the misconceptions they believe to be true. Whenever Pooja Kumari, a 23-year-old graduate from Rampur Babuwan village in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur district, tries to explain Covid-19 scientifically, her in-laws ignore it. While her husband and brother-in-law work in another city, she lives in the village with her in-laws and two small daughters. Pooja said, “My in-laws are orthodox and do not believe in the concept of immunization. Going against their beliefs, I have got my elder daughter administered with all the important vaccines. My decision has angered them, and they keep complaining. I am, however, aware of what is best for my child’s future. I will also get her vaccinated against Covid-19 once it’s available for infants.” Lack of proper awareness about Covid-19 vaccines has also contributed to disagreements among household members. “In my village, there is a continuous conflict regarding vaccination with in several households. While half of the household members are willing to get vaccinated, the rest are dominated by their apprehensions,” informed Namita Dwivedi, an Anganwadi worker from Nandauli village in Sultanpur district. Another concern of the villagers is the fear of possible side-effects of vaccination. A common question is: Why do the vaccinated get fever when the medicine is supposed to provide relief? With no one to listen to their concerns and address them patiently, some have developed a mortal fear of vaccines. This information gap regarding the vaccine has resulted in various misunderstandings and misconceptions. Namita said: “I feel people are horrified. Last year, the sudden spread of the virus and the deaths in urban areas had shaken them. In the second wave, the virus reached the remotest corner of the villages killing hundreds. Now, there are several rumours regarding vaccination. People are not going to trust fully trust it until they are properly informed. Especially the rural women, who are least educated, the myths and superstitions among them regarding vaccination are deep-rooted.” While underlying the importance of effective information dissemination, Pappu Kumar, Project Manager for the National Rural Livelihood Mission in district’s Baldirai block said, “During the polio eradication drive that started in 1994, as the vaccinations were being administered, rumours started doing rounds that polio vaccine is laced with infertility hormones. A massive media campaign, public messaging and door to door awareness drive helped addressing the concerns of villagers.” He stressed that this time the administration needs to invest double the efforts this time. There is a need to run special awareness campaigns for the Covid-19 vaccines and

pull villagers from the State of confusion. Until then, the tussle

over science and superstition will continue and we will not be able to defeat Covid-19.

(The writer is a Uttar Pradesh-based journalist. The views expressed are personal. Courtesy: Charkha Features.)