Tamil Nadu: Tribals climb up trees to avoid getting jabs

It was pandemonium at the tribal hamlet of Sarkar Porathipathi near Chadivayal on the outskirts of Coimbatore on Friday when health officers arrived to vaccinate residents. Saying they would die if vaccinated, men climbed atop trees and the women folk ran to the nearby river, refusing to listen to the health officers.
On Friday morning, medical officer Dr Kanagarani, junior doctor Hariprasadh and nurse Stella from Bouluvampatti primary health centre trekked all the way to the hamlet for the vaccination camp.
“The minute they saw us, they fled. The women went to the river stating they had to fetch water, while men ran to the fields and forests. A few climbed up trees. We tried our best to get them to return,” Dr Kanagarani said.
However, their efforts proved futile. Left with no other option, the team stood below the trees and attempted to create awareness. “But they asked us to leave them alone,” the medical officer said.
The team, however, managed to inoculate 10 tribals. Officials said one resident had earlier informed the PHC that 50 were willing to take the jab.
The 16 tribal hamlets at Bouluvampatti are home to 3,630. Of them, only 498 have been vaccinated so far. “Things are improving. In Mullangadu hamlet, many of the 700 residents have expressed willingness to get inoculated,” Dr Kanagarani said.
Dr Senthil Kumar, deputy director of public health, said vaccine hesitancy among tribals wasn’t anything new. “Some NGOs have volunteered to create more awareness among them,” he added.