Villagers Jump Into River to Escape COVID-19 Vaccination in UP's Barabanki The villagers claimed they leaped into the river because they were told it was a poisonous injection rather than a vaccine. | 24 May 2021 9:50 AM GMT Villagers in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki leaped into the Sarayu river to avoid vaccination as a team of health officials arrived to inoculate them in a bizarre incidence of vaccine reluctance. According to Rajiv Kumar Shukla, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Ramnagar Tehsil, the incident occurred on Saturday. Only 14 persons were vaccinated, despite the Sub-Divisional Magistrate explaining the need and benefits of vaccination and attempting to debunk myths.