Inoculators struggle to convince women

For a city as sprawling and diverse as Karachi, it is understandably impossible to put forth a one-size-fits-all campaign to immunise the entire urban population. Which is why the health department had introduced a door-to-door vaccination service to target women in communities and neighborhoods, where they have little access to public spaces.

According to Sindh Chief Minister’s Special Assistant, Waqar Mehdi, who is also the spokesperson of the provincial health department, the plan for the campaign was to liaise with religious scholars and area elders to encourage women and housewives to be get vaccinated against Covid-19. However, per lady-health workers associated with administering vaccine doses in target areas, the change of attitude that was envisioned has not really translated into reality, with housewives still remaining reluctant of getting jabbed.

“There is a certain dichotomy here: It is mostly women in urban slums, poor and mixed neighborhoods who are the most difficult to convince in the regard, whereas women in middle and upscale areas have been increasingly keen on getting their vaccine doses,” said Ameer Al-Nissa, a lady health worker whose latest battle has been trying to get through to the women of Karachi’s Punjab Colony area. “Some of these women have actually taken their first dose and were then sold a conspiracy by someone, and they are now reluctant of getting their second dose. They are so mind washed, that they have even started creating their own side-effects from placebo and propagating false stories, just to avoid the jab,” she added.

Per Al-Nissa, lady health workers like her have been having the hardest time operating in areas like Khuda Ki Basti, Surjani Town, Paharganj, Banaras, Bilal Colony, Moosa Colony, Lyari, Issa Nagri, Orangi Town, and certain squatter settlements, where rumours run deep and logic is hard to convey.

Similarly, Rukhsana Ahsan, who was part of the team that went for door-to-door vaccination in Moosa Colony, shared that lady health workers are accompanied by male vaccinators who administer the vaccines, per orders of the Sindh Health Department. “When we go to people’s homes, women tell us that they have already been vaccinated and close their doors to avoid any probing, while some don’t even bother opening their doors. It’s very few houses that let us in and easily take the vaccine. We cannot give anyone the vaccine by force, so most times we have to return home without making much progress,” she lamented.

Nasreen, who is also a lady health worker, believes that the anti-vaxxer propaganda is spreading most effectively through social media and from the mouth of local opinion leaders, which the government needs to tackle. “There should be regular pro-vaccination announcements from the mosque, and the local administration also needs to step in and do its part, otherwise there is no future for this campaign,” she remarked.

Ayesha Jadoon, a housewife from Moosa Colony is one among the thousands of people, who have been actively dodging the vaccine, out of the misguided fear of developing health issues. “I am a pregnant woman, so I cannot be vaccinated. It’s dangerous for me and my baby,” said the woman, who is adamant on only getting vaccinated if her gynecologist stresses upon it.

Speaking in this regard, lady health worker Nafisa Khatoon rubbished all claims by Jadoon, adding that the vaccines have been approved by health experts and generally pregnant women should have no issues with its uptake. “The only thing the vaccine has a high chance of doing is saving the mother from contracting Covid-19 during her pregnancy. However, if anyone has any reservations still, they should speak to their doctor and seek proper medical help, instead of believing hearsay,” she added.

Addressing the state of the campaign, Waqar Mehdi said that the Sindh government is still reviewing the information and statistics about the vaccination campaign on a daily basis. However, a spokesperson for the health department speaking in the regard maintained that Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho has directed the formulation of a micro-plan for vaccinating housewives. “In addition to the awareness campaign in this regard, a joint meeting of district administration and dignitaries will be convened shortly after which the campaign will be further developed,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2022.