AURANGABAD: The health workers deployed at the Fardapur village-based vaccination centre, in the Soyegaon tehsil, had a tough time dealing with the villagers who sought to be vaccinated and did not allow them (the workers) to shut the vaccination centre till late in the night on Tuesday.
The health workers were finally able to call it a day after they ran out of all the vaccines doses available at the centre.
Police authorities said that in the evening, suddenly a rumour spread in the village that the state government is permanently calling off the vaccination drive from Wednesday. Before the health workers could close the centre for the day, a large number of villagers rushed to the vaccination centre and demanded that they be vaccinated.
Initially, the health workers thought that these were just some latecomers, who wanted to get the jabs. However, as the rush of villagers continued — most of them asking the health workers to not to close the centre unless they are vaccinated — they alerted the Fardapur police station.
Assistant inspector Amol More told TOI, “The villagers had panicked. Beneficiaries who were yet to get the jabs and those who were due for the second dose rushed to the vaccination centre.”
To control the mob and to avoid any law and order situation, the vaccination drive was carried out amidst police bandobast. The health authorities said that a total 410 people got vaccinated. They also said that the number was more than double the number of beneficiaries coming over the past several days.
District health officer Dr Ashok Gaikwad said as the villagers were not ready to relent, vaccination was carried out till late in the night. Gaikwad said the people who could not get the vaccine had to be counselled and convinced that the drive will continue.
