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Nomad Vaccination

Dar Yasin

AP

India

Health workers trekked long distances through remote Himalayan meadows in Kashmir to vaccinate nomadic herders who have travelled for centuries between summer mountain pastures and winter grazing grounds in the lowland plains, herding their goats, sheep and horses. The challenge for the health workers was not the treacherous terrain but persuading these nomads to get inoculated against the coronavirus. “Everywhere we go, it seems rumours reach earlier than we do, and it makes our job difficult,” said one of the health works said. People are hesitant to get vaccinated because of the rumours. And the rumours are plentiful. Fuelled by misinformation and mistrust, many of these people, particularly in remote areas, believe the vaccines cause impotence, have serious side effects and can even lead to death. Some simply say they do not need the shots because they are immune to the coronavirus.