To bust rumours and create awareness about COVID-19 vaccination in rural areas, the Union minority affairs ministry will run a campaign from June 21 across the country. This was announced by Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a review meeting about Haj 2021 on June 10. The objective of the campaign is to dispel apprehensions being spread by ‘some vested interests’.
Over vaccine hesitancy among villagers, the Minister said “unfortunately some narrow-minded elements are creating confusion and fear on the vaccination front. They are not only enemies of the health and well being of the people but also of the country”.
The nationwide awareness campaign titled ‘Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai’, will be launched from minority concentrated district Rampur of Uttar Pradesh and it will also be organised in different parts of the country, informed Naqvi in a press statement.
As part of the campaign, the ministry will be roping in various socio-educational organisations, nonprofits and women self-help groups.
Besides, Haj Committees, Waqf boards, their associated organisations, Central Waqf Council, Maulana Azad Education Foundation, various social and educational institutions will be part of the awareness campaign, informed the minister.
Gaon Connection has been regularly reporting on vaccine hesitancy in rural India and tribal regions of the country. There are several rumours doing the rounds in villages ranging from death post-vaccination to severe illness. Frontline health workers, such as ASHAs and ANMs, are finding it difficult to convince people to step out and get vaccinated.
In some tribal areas, government is running special campaigns to vaccinate the tribal population.
Also Read: Addressing vaccine hesitancy in rural India, one jab at a time
Also Read: In the Nilgiris, local NGOs roped in to vaccinate tribal communities at their doorstep
Since the beginning of the COVID vaccination campaign in the country, over 272 million people have been administered COVID19 vaccines.
Nearly two weeks back on June 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the central government will provide free vaccines to states for all people above 18 years of age, starting June 21. So far, the states were procuring vaccines from manufacturers for people above 18 years of age and the Centre was providing free vaccines for only those above 45 years of age.
Also Read: Starting June 21, free vaccines to all states for people above 18: PM Modi
Yesterday June 18, PM Modi also launched six crash course programmes to train and upskill around 100,000 frontline workers to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also Read: PM Modi launches crash courses to train and upskill frontline health workers
