The Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has appealed to the medical community and the frontline workers to come forward for vaccination.The Union Minister has given this remark after a day when the country has crossed the major landmark of more than 1 core vaccine doses administered on healthcare and frontline workers.
“I humbly and strongly appeal to all healthcare and frontline workers to come forward to take the vaccine. Let us all work together to fight against COVID-19. The world is not free of disease. It is only with our collective effort that we shall overcome this public health challenge.” said Dr. Harsh Vardhan
He further said about the safety of vaccines, “The two COVID Vaccines approved by the country’s Drugs Controller have been tested and certified for their safety and immunogenicity and are completely safe. Only 40 cases of hospitalizations from Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) till date have been reported which comprises only 0.0004% of total vaccinations. Till now, there have been no serious/severe AEFI and no death has been attributed to the vaccines. The 32 deaths reported till date is a mere 0.0003% of total vaccinations with post-mortem reports vindicating that these are not related to vaccination.”
During the appeal he also warned about misinformation, he said “The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing vaccination drive is unfortunately affected by misinformation, rumors and negative messages. Factually incorrect information like infertility due to the vaccine, adverse effects if alcohol is consumed after vaccination etc., have come up quite prominently as few misconceptions, which need to be countered and nipped in the bud. As more than 1 crore doses have been administered successfully and safely, it is a testimony in itself to the safety of the vaccines. Let us not fall prey to these rumours.”
