New Delhi (NVI): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today urged people to ignore the misinformation being spread about COVID-19 vaccines and said that these vaccines are completely safe and effective.
Vardhan made the statements as he unveiled IEC posters to address the emerging issue of vaccine hesitancy in some sections of population in the country, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The posters were released in the presence of Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog, it added.
During the event, the Minister urged everyone to counter the vested campaigns of untruth and misinformation. “Let us put a STOP to these falsehoods,” he forcefully said.
He also appealed to people to seek the correct information from credible and authentic sources such as the Health Ministry, PIB, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, MyGov website etc.
The minister reiterated that truth is powerful and shall prevail and encouraged everyone to share the IEC posters to multiply the virtuous cycle of truth.
Vardhan also reminded everyone of the achievements of the country, the second most populous country in the world.
“India is one of the few countries to halt the march of COVID-19 and simultaneously develop a vaccine for COVID, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji who bestowed his personal attention to get the country rid of the pandemic,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.
Today, the country is seeing a steady decline in the active cases. Around 15,000 daily new cases were reported yesterday, the minister added.
He also explained the role of the vaccination in eradicating diseases and said, “The elimination of Polio and Smallpox was made possible by large scale immunization. Once immunized, not only that person is not capable of catching the disease, he/she is also unable to transmit the disease to others.”
“Vaccination against COVID will similarly create incapable of transmitting the disease and eradicate the disease altogetherin some time,” Vardhan added.
Further, commenting on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, he said, “All eminent doctors of well-known hospitals have taken the vaccine and praised the exercise for its desired end. It is only a handful of vested political interests who are interested in spreading rumour and encouraging vaccine hesitancy among those vulnerable to such propaganda in the population.”
“The paradox is that countries across the globe are asking us for access to the vaccines while a section of our own is fomenting misinformation and doubt for narrow political ends,” the minister said.
He stated that the prominent doctors along with many other healthcare workers within the government and the private sector have taken the COVID19 vaccine, and have returned to their work without any side effects, the statement added.
-RJV
