Reuters News
In India’s remote Sundarbans, boats full of vaccines bring hope
Healthcare workers carrying boxes containing COVISHIELD vaccine, a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India, disembark a boat to vaccinate elderly villagers during “Vaccination on boat” programme in Gosaba Island in the eastern state of West Bengal, India, July 12, 2021. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri
GOSABA, India (Reuters) – For Deepak Jena, a labourer on a remote island in the Sundarbans delta in India, getting a COVID-19 vaccine was proving to be difficult. Then a government boat arrived with vaccines.
Home to more than 4.5 million people and the largest mangrove forest in the world, residents of the Bay of Bengal delta endure all the miseries nature throws at them – from cyclones to erosion.
But the pandemic is testing a region with only basic healthcare facilities.
“It’s very difficult to get vaccinated in this village area,” said Jena. “We used to line up at crowded hospitals to get a shot”, unsuccessfully, before the boat came along.
The state government of West Bengal, where the Indian side of the Sundarbans is located, has launched a “vaccination on boat” programme to reach the remotest parts of the forested area. On the other side is Bangladesh.
“We have targeted some migrant people and the people who can’t reach our sub-centre … or any other session site (for coronavirus vaccinations),” said Indranil Bargi, a medical officer in the Gosaba area.
AstraZeneca and partner Serum Institute of India’s Covishield is being used for the vaccination drive.
More than 400,000 people have died from COVID-19 in India and the government is trying to expand its immunisation drive to protect more people.
But logistical challenges of reaching remote islands and treacherous villages in the mountains have complicated the immunisation effort.
The text, photographs, video, graphics, metadata, quotes, data, information, and all protectable intellectual property available through the this website is the property of Reuters and its licensors. It is provided by Reuters and its licensors to you for your personal use and information only. You may not use the Content or Service for any commercial purpose. You acknowledge that by accessing and using this the service, you agree to be legally bound by and hereby consent to these terms of use and the privacy policy. Learn more in https://www.reutersagency.com/en/about/brand-attribution-guidelines/