Meghalaya: High rate of vaccine hesitancy in Mawhati worries MLA Dasakhiat Lamare
While stating that vaccine hesitancy in his constituency is very critical, Lamare said political and religious fears are the factors that prevent people from coming forward to take the vaccine.
With only 15 per cent of the population vaccinated in the Mawhati constituency, Fisheries Minister and local legislator Dasakhiat Lamare on Thursday said authorities are finding it difficult to convince people to take the vaccine.
While stating that vaccine hesitancy in his constituency is very critical, Lamare said political and religious fears are the factors that prevent people from coming forward to take the vaccine.
“By political, I mean the same situation like how the enrollment for Aadhaar was. People were hesitant to enrol and had a lot of fear. There were several conspiracies and similar things are happening with the vaccine also,” Lamare said.
The NPP legislator also informed that apart from vaccine hesitancy, the unwillingness of people to come forward and get themselves tested is also another problem.
He, however, stated that the COVID situation in Mawhati is better than it was three months ago but the same problem persists – vaccine and testing hesitancy.
Lamare informed that he is in touch with the community and religious leaders by engaging them in the awareness campaign.
“I will be taking my second dose this week and will get it done in Nongpoh. I will make arrangements to call the local headmen and traditional heads of different villages in the programme and will brief them about it so it might (be of) some help,” Lamare said.
When asked about the strategies adopted to increase vaccination turnout in his constituency, the legislator said different constituencies and areas require different approaches, adding that he has a few strategies in mind which are in accordance with the way of life of the people there.
Recently legislators like Lahkmen Rymbui and Wailad Shylla had adopted certain strategies like providing cash rewards and rations to vaccinated individuals and the turnout was positive.
“We can’t force people to take the vaccine; the only solution is to keep trying,” Lamare added.
Meanwhile, the Mawhati MLA has condemned the “notorious” act of spreading misinformation on vaccination and has urged citizens to participate in this fight against COVID-19 by taking the vaccine.
(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)
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