The health ministry is taking COVID-19 vaccines to the unreached population across the country. But among the lot, there are a few who have taken it upon themselves to go and get vaccinated. In Paro, five yak herders of Chindu Goenba in Doteng Gewog decided to make an arduous journey to get their second dose.
Ngidup along with four others, walked for two days to reach the vaccination post in Doteng Gewog centre on Saturday. having received the second jab, they are already preparing to head back to the highlands.
“We all have our children pursuing education in Paro. So we thought it’s a good opportunity to meet our children and restock our essentials. It’s like killing two birds with one stone. It’s not that officials didn’t want to come to our place, we decided to make the journey,” said Ngidup.
“We crossed several passes and valleys to reach here. I am grateful to His Majesty and the Prime Minister for providing us with the vaccine. We are hopeful that we won’t contract the virus,” said Chencho Dorji, another yak herder.
The Doteng Mangmi said the herders insisted on coming to get the vaccine. Their journey was approved following a thorough discussion between the herders and the gewog office.
“We enquired if they are convenient with their herds if they come here for the vaccination. They convinced us that it would be convenient as they had their own reasons to come here. If they wanted officials to come to their place then we could have managed a team in consultation with dzongkhag,” said Chimi Dorji, the Doteng Mangmi.
Ngidup and his fellow herders returned on Sunday. Unlike others, they have no time to rest post-vaccination.
“We will have to start the journey early so that we can reach our herd. Then we can send out the remaining family members to get their vaccine. That way we can get our families here in the next three days. My only worry is how the old ones can make it on time. We have to hurry because we have been told that the vaccination duration is also short,” added Ngidup.
The remaining herders from Chindu Goenba are expected to reach the gewog centre today. They will receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the flu clinic.
Meanwhile, a team led by a doctor was deployed yesterday to reach out to and vaccinate 200 highlanders in Paro.
Paro district inoculated 93 per cent of its eligible population during the second nationwide vaccination drive, which ended yesterday.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
