House-to-House Call for Corona Vaccination

June 18, 2021
Kurvakurda, Karnataka

“Corona can end if we wear a mask and the public becomes more aware,” says Shantamma, a tuition teacher from Kurvakurda village in Karnataka. She just had her first dose of corona vaccine two days ago in her own village where the government’s ASHA worker, doctor, nurse and anganwadi worker came to organise a vaccination camp in front of the Hanuman temple.

An earlier camp was organised two months back in another village 7km away. The first batch of 45 years and above had their first dose and those remaining got their share now after the lockdown called by the health authorities. But not all came to the camp site.

Shantamma supporting the ASHA worker decided that she would not allow the situation to stagnate. She took a picture of her own vaccination, went house to house calling people who are supposed to get the vaccine. They came and all the vaccines were utilised.

She didn’t have any fear of corona. Her sister and brother-in-law had corona, and she served them until they got better. After her own injection, she didn’t have any side effects; “I did some yoga asanas, so no pain. ASHA worker gave some paracetamol in case a fever occurs.” Shantamma emphasises that health awareness should be provided before and after vaccination to the people.

In the second week of June, Shantamma participated in a series of virtual training sessions on the topic of Covid Health Awareness that was facilitated by Amrita.

Shantamma reminds villagers to continue to be cautious and always to wear a mask, hand washing, maintain social distancing and the importance of having good ventilation in the house when sharing a space.