CHENNAI: The Athipattu town panchayat in Tiruvallur district has bought stainless steel vessels for Rs 7 lakh to gift to villagers who take the anti-Covid vaccination.
The panchayat’s attempts to ensure 100% vaccination has been stymied by vaccine hesitancy among villagers who are swayed by myths and misinformation about vaccines. So officials came up with this incentive.
“My aged mother refused to get vaccinated out of fear. Once she came to know about the vessel distribution she agreed. The health workers also cleared the doubts about the vaccine,” said Vasu, a resident of Athipattu.
The Tiruvallur district administration has been campaigning to dispel misinformation and is planning more steps to encourage people to take the vaccine.
The district administration said 1.28 lakh people had been vaccinated by September 12 against the target of one lakh.
And on Sunday, 82,556 people were vaccinated in the district against the target of 75,000.
