Vaccine myths that have Orang Asli villages running scared

 

Activists say the Orang Asli must be better informed of the advantages of getting vaccinated against Covid-19. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Many die after vaccination, others fall ill and become paralysed, and only a few days ago, someone became comatose — these are among the horror stories being fed to Orang Asli folk.

And there is a need to stop this misinformation quickly, says an activist.

Tijah Yok Chopil, from the Semai tribe, has urged the government and the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) to increase education and engagement in the villages to counter the widespread misinformation on the vaccines.

Tijah said social media promotions are not enough to educate the Orang Asli on the importance of getting vaccinated.

“Social media may not be enough. The leaders must come to the villages and meet the communities to explain the importance of the vaccination programme and the consequences if we are not vaccinated, including telling them the next steps they need to take,” she told FMT.

She urged organisations which had access to Orang Asli villages, such as Jakoa, the Information Department and the district health offices to take immediate action.

“Those in charge of explaining to the community must also mention that babies all this while have been given vaccines at clinics to protect them against all kinds of diseases,” she said.

She said many were swayed by misinformation about the side effects of vaccines, fearing possible illnesses and even death.

Elaborating on the misinformation, Mimi Anai, a Temuan activist from Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Raya in Seremban, said many were fearful after seeing reports of people allegedly dying after their jabs.

“Aside from deaths, there is misinformation about people getting fully paralysed. The worst fake news I have heard was that vaccinations can alter the Orang Asli DNA.”

She said such myths would make their rounds every day in the Orang Asli community WhatsApp groups.

“Just yesterday, I saw news that someone had supposedly become comatose after getting vaccinated.”

Many are easily influenced, she said, as the ones spreading the news are not just people from their community, but also their relatives from other districts and states.

Mimi said vaccine hesitation at her village is severe. “It is not just the elderly, but even the youths are rejecting the idea of getting vaccinated. For the few who have registered, they would start getting second thoughts because of the news being circulated.”

She said she is the only one in her family who is open to vaccination and is still waiting for her appointment.

“For me, I accept it. We will see the side effects later on. I do not mind being the first person in my community to get the jab.”

Meanwhile, an Orang Asli village head from Gerik, Hulu Perak, said all of those in his community, including himself, are against the vaccine.

Rahman Hassan, of Kampung Orang Asli Cenawing, said they are not confident of the vaccines’ safety and efficacy. Many also have suspicions about the differences among the vaccines available.

“We heard through WhatsApp groups that people in rural villages will only be given a one-dose vaccine. They say we may not attend the second dose appointment. That causes some doubts for us — why are the vaccines different?”

He said his community would rather rely on their own herbal concoctions to boost their immune system, adding that the Orang Asli are isolated and do not feel any need to get vaccinated.

However, he said, the Orang Asli are educated on the dangers of the Covid-19 disease and comply with strict SOPs.

Rahman said the community would be open to clear and effective explanation on the vaccines.

“I think if they explained it to the communities using a soft approach, we would accept their explanation.

“For the Orang Asli, you can’t just use verbal explanation. You may need to promote it in different ways,” he said.

A total of 63,734 Orang Asli have not registered for vaccination, based on feedback from the registration forms given out in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

Deputy rural development minister Abdul Rahman Mohamad said of the 79,041 registration forms received so far, only 15,307 Orang Asli have agreed to be vaccinated. - FMT