Side-effects mere rumours: Mohindra stresses at MR vaccine drive launch
FARIDKOT: Amid concerns over circulation of fake news claiming that the vaccine for Measles and Rubella (MR) can cause adverse reactions in children, Punjab health minister Brahm Mohindra launched a state-wide campaign to vaccinate 73 lakh children from Faridkot on Tuesday. The drive will run from May 1 to May 25 in all schools, anganwadi centres and outreach centres. “I urge residents not to trust fake news on social media and rumours against the MR vaccination campaign,” said the minister.
Measles is highly infectious disease and leads to childhood morbidity and mortality. Rubella infection can lead to fetal death, spontaneous abortion and set of serious birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).
“Children from nine months to less than 15 years will be vaccinated regardless of previous vaccination with MR/MMR or history of measles/rubella like illness,” added Mohindra. Over 2.3 lakh children were vaccinated on Tuesday.
WHAT ARE THE FAKE ALERTS
Fake alerts, which include texts and audio clips, claim the vaccine is banned in the US for causing serious side effects, including damaging a child’s immunity and memory. There is also the claim that the vaccine is being pushed into India by the global pharmaceutical industry looking for a market to dump their products. Even more ‘sinister’ stuff doing the rounds on social media is that the vaccination is being used on minorities.
DOCS REFUTE SUCH CLAIMS
Civil surgeons have strongly refuted such claims. “The MR vaccination has been administered on 11 crore children and there is no report of harmful results. In my district, Sangrur, we covered 10,928 children in government and private schools on the first day of the campaign,” said Sangrur civil surgeon, Dr Manjit Singh.
Earlier in the day, there was resistance to the drive from villages in the district. Some panchayats had even made announcements against the campaign.
“We wrote to the civil surgeon. Doctors then held a meeting in our village. They counselled parents, who allowed their children to be vaccinated,” said Harpreet Singh, sarpanch, Duggan village.
In Muktsar, where the rumours had started doing the rounds from Monday itself, civil surgeon Sukpal Singh said, “These are rumors. Measles cause more than 50,000 deaths in our country every year.” Public announcements were also made against the drive. In Bhlaiana village, farm leaders and department officials had an argument.
Gurbhagat Singh, Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) said, “We were worried, but doctors clarified the issue.” Muktsar deputy commissioner Sumeet Jarangal said, “The vaccine is safe. I appeal to parents to get their children vaccinated.”
In Hoshiarpur, six students became unconscious after being administered the vaccine. The health authorities, however, said it was not the vaccine, but the fear of vaccination. Civil surgeon Renu Sood said, “There was nothing wrong with the vaccine. Children panicked on seeing the needle.”
In Nabha, rural senior medical officer Hans Raj said teams had been sent to Toderwal, Sauja, Ajnouda and Kakrala village to convince the parents. He added, “Parents are coming to us with a doctored video where the vaccine is shown to have many side effects. The vaccine is safe.”