The All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW), a collective of 5 million sex workers in India and a member of NSWP, last week wrote to the Delhi government demanding better access to vaccines for sex workers and transgender people.
The Hindustan Times reported on the letter, including quotes from AINSW.
“The community of sex workers and transgender/hijra persons are not only at high risk of Covid-19 infection, but are also vulnerable on account of their socio-economic status, the stigma, discrimination and exclusion that they face in society, as well as a lack of information, services, resources and support. Lack of identity documents, including documents with date of birth, residence proof and self-identified gender identity is another barrier in accessing services such as Covid-19 vaccination,” the AINSW said in its note to the Delhi government.
The letter also urged the Delhi government to deploy volunteers and healthcare workers to register and vaccinate sex workers and transgender people in community friendly settings.
Spokespersons for the Delhi government have so far given no indication that there will be improved access, with Dr. Rashmi Singh, director of Delhi government’s department of women and child development (WCD) saying, “as of now, there are no such drives or vaccination centre for transgender persons and sex workers.”