Mangaluru: A family of seven that had refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19 have agreed to take the shots after Udupi deputy commissioner M Kurma went to their home and spoke to them on Saturday.

The family lives in a colony in Brahmavar at Saibrakatte.

They were somehow scared of the side-effects the vaccine may induce.
Asha workers, doctors and people’s representatives had tried convincing them, but they were not ready to take the shots. One family member had died of Covid-19 but still the family was unconvinced about the efficacy of vaccines.

Kurma, who visited a public health centre at Saibrakatte on Saturday, learnt about the family. He visited the colony and succeeded in convincing the family about vaccine safety. Kurma told them: “The district administration will be with you if anything goes wrong after taking the vaccine.”

Finally, the family told the DC that they will go for a vaccine one by one.

The district has so far administered the first dose to 9.24 lakh (92.5%) of the 9.99 lakh target beneficiaries above 18 years.

In total, 6.11 lakh (61.2%) have received the second dose, said Dr Nagbhushan Udupa, the district health and family welfare officer.

“The district will start the Har Ghar Dastak campaign, a door-to-door vaccination drive, on November 22 and the same will be held till November 30. Angnawadi and Asha workers will visit homes and check the voters’ list to identify vaccine beneficiaries. Those who have not received the vaccine will be given the doses at their doorstep,” Nagbhushan said.

He appealed to people to join hands so that the district reaches 100% vaccine insulation.