Vaccine pushers find themselves in a corner

Fed up with 'aggressive' women going door-to-door asking people to get vaccinated against H1N1 and Hepatitis B, man lodges complaint with cops

Fed up with 'aggressive' women going door-to-door asking people to get vaccinated against H1N1 and Hepatitis B, man lodges complaint with cops

For the past six weeks, women 'agents' have been hounding residents of several areas, asking that they get vaccinated against H1N1 and Hepatitis B. The women have been going on a census of sorts, ensuring that residents buy a registration form for Rs 10, and then asking them to visit medical camps on Sundays to get vaccinated.


Gearing up: People queued-up outside the centre to get themselves
vaccinated against H1N1 and Hepatitis B. Pic /Satish Badiger

Finally on Saturday, Sundreshaiah, an irate estate manager from Oakyard Apartments in Tilak Nagar filed a complaint against the 'operation'. Sundreshaiah said, "If someone comes to the building without proper verification, what else could I do but call the police? They were collecting money from the residents and telling everyone they were from the government." He added, "I only did this in public interest."

The forms issued under the name Ritesh Raj, a registered medical doctor, had already brought in almost 1,000 residents, all of whom paid Rs 200 to get vaccinated, to the medical camp in Mewa P U College in Jayanagar 9th block.

Ritesh Raj told this reporter, "I agree that it can be an annoyance sometimes but we're not forcing these people to register at gun point. And frankly, I am not concerned about how the grass root workers convince people to register." He added, "We are free on Sundays, so we decided to help people."

The camp already has been conducted Peenya, Dasarahalli, HSR layout, Ulsoor and other areas across the city. This reporter visited the medical camp this Sunday along with policemen from the Tilak Nagar Police and found that many from the locality had shown up to get vaccinated because of the low price.

Police Inspector Kalyan Shetty of Tilak Nagar police station said, "He would have conducted the camp here, but we stopped him."

Informed choice
S Chaluraja, head, H1N1 monitoring cell, said, "The govt has asked medical representatives to only administer the vaccination to those who require it. It is up to the individual entirely." He added, "No one can be forced to take any vaccination. It is all about making an informed choice."

Sunil Kumar, ACP (Law and Order), said, "These people can go door to door about tell people about their products but not force someone to take any kind of vaccinations." He added, "I will personally take this up with the police stations and see to the matter."

Residentspeak
Residents from Tilak Nagar who showed up at the camp yesterday to get vaccinated spoke to MiD DAY.
Anitha N (26), a customer relations executive, said, "They came to our house and said that it would only cost us Rs 200 and that it was very cheap compared with going to a hospital." She added, "All five members of our family registered with this camp."

Sita Narakesari (70), a housewife, said, "My husband and I were told how important it is to be safe from the disease. But after coming here we found out that we have to pay Rs 200 which is not what the girl who came to our house told us." She added, "We were told it would only cost us Rs 10."

Easily available

According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), the injectable vaccine can only be administered to those above 18 years of age, and it ought to only be administered to those with high risks. The vaccination is available at all leading hospitals for about Rs 250 to Rs 300.