ISSN: 2265-6294

Humanities’ Approach in Understanding and Reducing Stigmatisation of Vaccine Hesitancy in the Post Pandemic Era among the Schedule Caste Community in India

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Hena Singh,Chandrachur Singh, Mahasweta Sarma

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy or the stigmatisation around it has always been lurking around the behaviour of Indians which was particularly evident during the Covid vaccine drive. The scientific facts around the usefulness of the vaccines preventing the spread of Covid-19 Virus are known to all. However, it was relatively unsuccessful in generating a positive image about the accessibility and relevance of the vaccine, especially for the people from the more modest ways of life. The identification of the reasons behind this phenomenon, and the understanding of why such a phenomenon would occur have to be studied through different approaches of humanities for the common people to be made aware of the dangers of being exposed to the pandemic and the process of getting vaccinated. In India, the already marginalised community of Schedule Caste, the so called “untouchables” were already socially drained due to the human rights abuses they had to go through historically and the vaccine stigmatisation was evident in these marginalised communities. Therefore, this paper aims to analyse how social sciences would find the reasons behind the hesitancy of vaccination, the various parameters affecting people’s perception and the preferable policies and programs which would help reduce the stigmas and thus create a positive atmosphere for the vaccine campaigns. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach of looking at this vaccine stigmatisation can help us have a better understanding of the problem. This paper will try to bring forth into notice the theoretical aspect of the following factors: Is it possible through subjects from the discipline of Humanities like developmental studies, psychology, sociology etc to look for a suitable solution towards vaccine hesitancy? Is there a complete way out of this vicious circle?

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