Vaccine hesitancy in Odisha: Mankidia tribes run away from homes to escape COVID vaccination

Jajpur: Even as the government has intensified awareness regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, many persons belonging to the Mankidia tribe yesterday ran away from their homes in a bid to evade vaccination at Malhara Sahi under Ransol panchayat of Odisha’s Jajpur district.

The vaccination drive was organised in the locality at the Katepurti Primary School by the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development Department of the State Government with a target of vaccinating 300 Mankidia tribes.

However, most of them went into hiding fearing the vaccination while only 76 received the jab. As many as 224 locals were administered vaccine at the centre due to absence of the tribals.

Ten doses of vaccine could not be used due to lack of syringes.