Centre starts drive to instil confidence in Covid-19 vaccine

With hesitancy slowing down the progress of Covid-19 vaccination drive in India, the Central government on Thursday launched a major drive to convince healthcare workers and others to come forward and take the shot. In the last six days, over 10.4 lakh persons have been vaccinated across India at 18,161 session sites. On Thursday itself over 2.33 lakh people were vaccinated, with no deaths due to Adverse Effect from Immunisation (AEFI) reported.

However, it is felt that the progress is slow and given this pace of vaccination, it will take much longer than expected to achieve the target of 3 crore beneficiaries in the first phase and may delay the second phase when people above 50 years are to be vaccinated. The President, Prime Minister, Union ministers, chief ministers, MPs, MLAs, and judges will be among those who will get the jab in the second

◗ IN THE last six days, over 10.4 lakh persons have been vaccinated across India at 18,161 session sites. However, it is felt that the progress is slow.

phase.

Despite advocacy from the highest level, healthcare workers are not very enthusiastic in several places. One big reason is the use of Covaxin (made by Bharat Biotech) which has been approved under clinical trial mode. Second reason is AEFIs. While in the first couple of days 580 people reported AEFIs, it has come down substantially now. On Thursday, one person who was vaccinated on January 16 was hospitalised with intracranial (brain) hemorrhage in Rajasthan’s Udaipur though officials said this case is not related to vaccination. Both vaccine manufacturers, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, have given a detailed list saying who all have to be excluded from

vaccination. Union health minister Dr Hardh Vardhan blamed the Opposition for spreading “misinformation” as he launched a special campaign to address vaccine hesitancy and "misinformation."

“Let us put a stop to these falsehoods. Truth is powerful and shall prevail. 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 doubts for narrow political ends,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan while urging people to "follow the truth" and “seek the correct information from authentic sources.”

The campaign will include publicising “impactful messages” from key technical experts from the country who have already taken the Covid-19 vaccine. The campaign will also try to convince beneficiaries on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and their critical role in controlling the pandemic. The government has also tweaked the Co-Win software to allow more session sites to increase the pace of vaccination.

The minister gave examples of polio and smallpox that could be eliminated due to large-scale immunisation.

Commenting on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, he said, “All eminent doctors of wellknown 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.”