“I knew I was doing the right thing as I have faith in the top-notch doctors who are urging everyone to get vaccinated,” said Manojee, 42, who has been taking antiretroviral medication for HIV since 2017.
But it was a difficult decision, and Manojee is jittery about going back for her second shot, reflecting widespread vaccine hesitancy among trans Pakistanis as the country fights to boost inoculation rates in all segments of the population.
Despite official medical advice for them to get vaccinated, many trans Pakistanis fear they could be at risk of side effects due to high rates of pre-existing conditions such as HIV, hepatitis C or complications from gender reassignment surgery. “My friend told me I may get sick since I have HIV,” said