Leprosy patients Barmsia Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Bhuda received their first dose of Covishield on Wednesday during a special jab drive conducted by the district administration. These patients were facing difficulty in getting vaccinated against Covid-19 partly due to their inability to visit vaccination centres and partly because of social taboos associated with leprosy disease.

The initiative to organize the camp was taken by Tundi MLA, Mathura Prasad Mahto and was executed under the supervision of District Reproductive and Child Health Officer, Dr Vikas Rana. This was the fifth special vaccination drive conducted by the district administration.

Earlier 60 physically and mentally challenged individuals were vaccinated on June 9 at Pehla Kadam school. It was the first special vaccination camp, and was soon followed by the vaccination of 60 kids at the delinquent child reformatory centre on June 16. Following that 80 petrol pump staff were vaccinated on July 4 and over 150 auto rickshaw drivers and LPG delivery men were inoculated on July 9.

Talking to The Telegraph Online, Rana said, “The special vaccination drive which is of a kind in the state and aims at inoculating the vulnerable population from Covid infection, as well as helping those who couldn’t visit the vaccination centre.”

“We are thankful of Tundi MLA, Mathura Prasad Mahto who raised the issue of vaccination of inmates of Barmasia Rehabilitation and Training Centre (BRTC)” said Rana. He added that a similar camp would be organized at the centre for the second dose after the completion of 84 days.

“We have vaccinated various vulnerable groups by conducting special drives earlier as per the availability of vaccines and are planning to vaccinate the rickshaw pullers by organizing a special drive soon” elaborated Rana.

Echoing a similar sentiment, father Ajay Tiru, Director of Damien Social Welfare Society which operates from Barmasia Rehabilitation and Training Centre since 1980, said, “We were concerned about the safety of the inmates of this centre as the infection is spreading in the surrounding areas. We are thankful to the Tundi MLA, who helped us out.”

“Convincing the inmates for the benefits of the vaccine was a challenging task as a majority of them are uneducated and had various apprehensions about the vaccination procedure,” said Tiru. He added that along with leprosy patients other staff of the centre were also vaccinated.

Samir Sheikh (55), one of the patients, received the first dose along with his wife Munni Sheikh (52) during the camp. He said, “We have been living at the centre for 20 years and are engaged in producing bed sheets, operation theatre gown, gamcha and lungi. We were concerned about our safety during the pandemic. After being jabbed, we are feeling secure.”