People are resisting vax due to wrong perception, says corpn

People are resisting vax due to wrong perception, says corpn

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai:22.05.2021

Several people are not coming forward to get vaccinated against Covid-19 though slots are open, Greater Chennai Corporation officials have said.

Health workers say people are either sceptical about the vaccine’s efficacy or fear “side effects”, despite repeated assurances given by doctors.

On Thursday, for instance, the corporation held a vaccination drive at Sarvamangala colony in Ashok Nagar but only 32 of the 80 eligible people turned up. A fever surveillance worker went to an apartment complex there to encourage 22 people to take the vaccine, but only eight did. “The majority simply refused, saying they are afraid of its side effects,” she said.

These residents had many concerns. One of them asked, “Will my hypothyroidism worsen if I get the vaccine?” Another said, “I do not want to take Covishield because I was told that Covaxin is more effective”. “My relative died despite getting both shots of the vaccine, what is the guarantee that nothing would happen to me,” asked another. A few of them also asked the health worker to give it in writing that nothing would happen to them after getting the shot.

“I even tried to connect one of them to a doctor to answer queries, but they weren’t convinced. We cannot force anybody,” said the worker.

“Resistance will be there, but that will change as more start getting the shots,” said Dr P Kulandaisamy, former director of public health. He said officials must first vaccinate people who are willing, and the priority group, which includes people above 45 years of age, people with comorbid conditions, cab drivers, store workers, and those who have public interaction.

According to the corporation, of the 18 lakh people in the above 45 years age group, only 58.5% (10.86 lakh) have taken the first dose and 5.15 lakh have taken the second as of 12pm on Thursday. The daily vaccination target is about 34,000. The civic body has about a lakh doses with it.

Several resident welfare associations have been encouraging residents to get the shots. “We clearly told our residents that vaccination is the only way to avoid going to hospital,” said B Kannan, secretary of T Nagar residents’ welfare association. He said that almost all residents got their first doses in the special drive.

“People’s resistance is a real issue. But we want the public to understand the seriousness of the crisis and cooperate. We can only fight this together,” an official said.