ASHA worker Anusaya Dolas ruefully tells us that villagers now run away on seeing her. Earlier, her home visits in Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra) were welcomed. But people have since fallen prey to rumours about vaccination
She says people fear that getting a jab would make them impotent or even kill them. As the virus spreads to the hinterlands, it is becoming more important than ever to combat vaccine hesitancy
Health workers like Dolas are conducting door-to-door counselling in a bid to persuade people. Some areas have begun offering transportation to vaccination centres