– India Science Wire
New Delhi: India has begun one of the world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccination programs. While countries across the globe are asking India for access to vaccines, there are incidences of misinformation-driven vaccination hesitancy in the country. To address this, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, launched Information, Education and Communication (IEC) posters prepared by the Health Ministry.
Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “Let us put a STOP to these falsehoods”. He appealed to people to seek the correct information from credible and authentic sources such as the Health Ministry, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, MyGov website etc.” Dr Harsh Vardhan said that India is one of the few countries to halt the march of COVID-19 and simultaneously develop a vaccine for COVID-19, “thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who bestowed his personal attention to let the country get rid of the pandemic.”
Talking about the whole vaccination drive he said, “All eminent doctors of well-known hospitals have taken the vaccine and praised the exercise for its desired end. Those who have taken the COVID19 vaccine returned to their work without any side effects.”
Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, who was also present at the event said, “The Vaccination Drive is ‘AntimPrahaar’ against COVID-19. India has taken a revolutionary decision to provide the vaccine at the earliest.” He also appealed to everyone to not follow the misleading campaigns of mistruth and help everyone by sharing the correct information.
Rajesh Bhushan, The Union Health Secretary, Vandana Gurnani, Additional Secretary and Managing Director, National Health Mission, Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary (Health), Dr. Sunil Kumar, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and other senior officials were also present at the event.
Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr N N Mathur, Director Lady Hardinge Medical College, Dr. S. V. Arya, Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital, Dr Rana A. K. Singh, Medical Superintendent, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and representatives of development partners like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation attended the event virtually.
Keywords- vaccine hesitancy, COVID-19, misinformation
