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How does India deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to a health worker in a remote tribal village with spotty mobile connectivity?
@DashJatin, @dansiddiqui & I travelled to Odisha's Koraput district, just as India's vaccination prog started.
Our story: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-vaccine-deli/from-factory-to-faraway-village-behind-indias-mammoth-vaccination-drive-idUSKBN29U09U
How does India deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to a health worker in a remote tribal village with spotty mobile connectivity?
@DashJatin, @dansiddiqui & I travelled to Odisha's Koraput district, just as India's vaccination prog started.
Our story: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-vaccine-deli/from-factory-to-faraway-village-behind-indias-mammoth-vaccination-drive-idUSKBN29U09U
This is Pendajam, a tiny tribal hamlet in the south Odisha highlands that is home to Reena Jani, a 34-year-old ASHA worker, who was among the first wave of Indians to be vaccinated against COVID-19 earlier this month.
Jani woke up early on Jan 16, finished her chores, checked on a nearby pregnant woman and then sat pillion on a neighbor’s bike to reach the vaccination centre.
This is what her ride to Mathalput Community Health Centre looked ride.
This is what her ride to Mathalput Community Health Centre looked ride.
The vaccine Jani was about to receive had travelled much further. From @SerumInstIndia’S factory in Pune, it had travelled to Odisha’s capital city by air.
From there, a vaccine truck brought the shots some 500km to Koraput town.
On the way: traffic jams, cows, fog, fatigue.
From there, a vaccine truck brought the shots some 500km to Koraput town.
On the way: traffic jams, cows, fog, fatigue.
A day after arriving in Koraput, the shots were again pulled out of a fridge, counted and packed carefully to delivery to vaccination centres.
An armed policeman stood by the whole time, and then accompanied the van on its delivery run.
An armed policeman stood by the whole time, and then accompanied the van on its delivery run.
A small white vaccine van then took off for its delivery run, cutting through small country roads.
In all, India has distributed 16.5 million COVID-19 shots and this is how the vaccine travelled deep into the hinterland - all the while being kept at the required temperature.
In all, India has distributed 16.5 million COVID-19 shots and this is how the vaccine travelled deep into the hinterland - all the while being kept at the required temperature.
At Mathalput Community Health Centre the next morning, officials and health workers first listened to the Prime Minister’s speech.
Then, they held a quick ceremony to appease the gods before starting the vaccination programme.
A coconut was expertly smashed.
Then, they held a quick ceremony to appease the gods before starting the vaccination programme.
A coconut was expertly smashed.
Jani quietly waited her turn but she was scared.
“I was frightened because of my son and daughters. If something happens to me, what will they do?” Jani told us, visibly relieved after the injection produced no immediate side effects.
“I was frightened because of my son and daughters. If something happens to me, what will they do?” Jani told us, visibly relieved after the injection produced no immediate side effects.
When she first learned she was to be vaccinated, Jani said she wasn’t worried. Then, she heard a rumour.
“Someone told me that people are fainting, they are developing fever and some are dying after taking the injection,” she said. “That is why I was frightened.”
“Someone told me that people are fainting, they are developing fever and some are dying after taking the injection,” she said. “That is why I was frightened.”
A jittery Jani eventually received her shot, partly vaccinating her against COVID-19: one tiny step in India’s mission to beat the pandemic.
Read the full story, along with @dansiddiqui's photos, here: https://widerimage.reuters.com/story/the-1700km-journey-to-deliver-coronavirus-vaccine-to-indias-rural-health-workers
Read the full story, along with @dansiddiqui's photos, here: https://widerimage.reuters.com/story/the-1700km-journey-to-deliver-coronavirus-vaccine-to-indias-rural-health-workers
