Transgenders and the Vaccine Divide

There are three options when you choose your gender on the CoWin portal for registration: Male, Female, and Other. It is humiliating for the transgender community to be named as ‘Other’, as if they are assigned a role that is distinct from the ‘normal’ male and female. In a country that is rooted in prejudice against its transgender community, it is not surprising to note that only around 5-6% of its total trans population has been vaccinated against the deadly Covid-19. In the state of Bihar itself, only 1,574 transgenders have been vaccinated, which makes it only around 4% of the total transgender population.

Many from the trans community are immunocompromised. Sex reassignment surgery, hormone intake, drug addiction, and HIV have made them more vulnerable to the disease. This makes it more important for them to be prioritised for vaccination, however, lack of proper awareness and sensitisation has caused them to be left so far behind.

There are many transpeople who have placed their mistrust in the vaccine, and this lack of confidence is justified, since they have always faced stigma and transphobia when reaching out to the medical industry for aid. There is also a massive lack of trans representation in medical trials which fails to convince them of the efficacy of vaccine.

The vaccine drive is also highly criticized for creating a digital divide, since the only way to register is through the CoWin portal, which requires a functioning internet connection. This is a privilege that is not afforded by many in the trans community.

Authorities and officials need to sensitise themselves on issues of inclusion to maintain the chord of trust between the State and transgender persons. Sweeping expressions like ‘others’ not only break this chord, but also snatch the right to proper documentation of healthcare data of transgender persons.

Being discriminated against so casually on most occasions exacerbates the community’s scepticism about any sensitised treatment from society and the State. This also serves as a reason for their reluctance to get vaccinated. It’s a dangerous situation in the second wave because many in the transgender community are already immuno-compromised and at greater risk of Covid.

An inclusive vaccine drive is crucial as India prepares for a third wave of the Covid pandemic. And we can’t be so complacent as to leave out an entire community of Indians.