Vaccine hesitancy in rural areas: “Superstitions come in way of scientific measures”: Madras High Court bats for awareness campaigns
The Madras High Court bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee & Justice Senthil Kumar Raamamoorthy while hearing a suo moto plea related to management of CoVID in the State & UT has directed the state to undertake awareness campaigns & like measures to educate citizens in rural areas to step forward & take the vaccine.
“Awareness campaigns & like measures need to be taken to educate citizens in rural areas to step forward & take the vaccine. Superstitions practiced come in the way of implementation of scientific measures & this results in hesitance of vaccination for people in the society.”, the Court said.
The court while taking note of the status of number of cases in the state observed that, “It appears that both the state & UT have been able to manage the second surge of pandemic & the worst, it is hoped it is over. There appears to be a fall in the number of daily cases reported in Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. Number of deaths have gone up but as compared to other states, it is the lowest.”
The Court also took into account the complaints by the intervenors rich people booking oxygenated beds in private hospitals irrespective of needing the same & observed that as a result of this the less fortunate ones were being denied beds as beds in the govt hospital appear to be filled up.
While expressing its displeasure on the state of affairs in the State with regards to vaccine, the court observed that “The future allocation of vaccine for TN appears to be disappointing, though the centre says that the allocation depends upon the population & cases and other factors. The centre's allocation in this regard may be looked into.”.
Further on the aspect of vaccines the Court has directed the State to look into the aspect of prioritising administration of vaccines to police personnel, health care, advocates & judges.
Although the bench on a positive note remarked that there was no clamouring for oxygen in the State & the Union Territory but taking into account the state’s apprehension that 146 MT of daily supply of oxygen would be completely destroyed, the Court took placed on record the Ld ASG’s submission that the aspect of YAAS cyclone & supply of oxygen has been taken into consideration by the centre.