Aligarh Muslims fear vaccine more than virus

Dr Naseem Ahmed, IAS officer-turned Aligarh Muslim University vice-chancellor, and District Magistrate S.M. Bobdey had a tough time convincing women to let their children be administered the polio vaccine.

With polio vials in hands, one could see the V-C and the DM chasing families and force-feeding the children amid protests from mothers and grandmothers.

Koi zabardasti hai kya (Is it a must), said a young Shahzadi in the Shahjamal neighbourhood. ‘‘Issey bachche ki tabiyat kharab ho jayegi (the child will get sick due to this),’’ she said. Rumours were doing the rounds that it caused impotency. But soon social workers grabbed the child and administered polio drops. The same scene was repeated several times. However, resistance to the campaign has come down, claim DM Bobdey and V-C Ahmed. According to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr M.P. Bansal, there has been an overall higher turnout at booths. The high incidence of polio here — 11 out of 28 in UP — and said to be the highest in a single district in the world, has raised alarm.

But fear looms large in the town. Since there would no immunisation drive during the monsoon, the next three-four months could see the virus spread. Sunday’s drive, despite coming in the wake of the detection of 11 polio cases, had glitches. As a result, the blame game has begun. Campaign promoter Rotary’s district coordinator Omar said the vaccinators did not report on time. In some booths, vaccines ran out leading to booth closure. The CMO says it happened in only one-two per cent cases.