Daringbadi: Superstition has hit the successful implementation of the measles and rubella vaccination drive as residents in the remote Katingia panchayat of this block refused to allow children to take the vaccines fearing deaths.
The villagers took a stern view after rumours spread that the vaccine is killing children.
Alarmed, a team led by chief district medical officer (CDMO) Dr Swapneshwar Gadnaik visited Kutuka, Minzapanka and Badamundi villages and explained the benefits of the vaccines to the villagers.
The team again visited Badamundi village Sunday due to the absence of the villagers at the vaccination points the previous day. Dr Gadnaik said that a date has been fixed for all children to be vaccinated in the presence of district and health officials. He said all people have understood the need for taking the vaccine.
The vaccination drive was hit after rumour mongers warned that children taking the vaccines would die. This spread panic in the panchayat as people refused to allow their wards take the vaccine and wrote a letter to the district administration.
The vaccination drive is being carried out in 25 panchayats of Daringbadi block in Kandhamal district where 40,100 children aged nine months to 15 will be taking the vaccine. The drive will continue till March.
However, people believing idle talk refused to allow their children to take MR vaccine. Some guardians even stopped sending children to schools and hid them in their relatives’ houses fearing that they may be given vaccines.
This has become a cause of concern for the district administration despite carrying out awareness drives to sensitise people about vaccination.
BDO Trilochan Patra, MO of Daringbadi CHC Dr Jayapal Senapati , CDPO Meena Patra and other officials accompanied the team. PNN
