Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 22: The COVID-19 vaccination drive has commenced in Kashmir and the healthcare workers, who had led from the front in fight against pandemic, have once again set an example by coming forward to take the shots.
It’s in place to mention here that since the day vaccination drive has started rumour mongers have had a field day. These miscreants have tried to create a notion that the vaccines are unsafe and people should not take it. The doctors and other healthcare workers have volunteered to take the vaccine shots to instill the confidence among the people that they need not to worry.
DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said, “Vaccinations would bring an end to this ongoing public health crisis. In order to get back to normal, we need enough people to get vaccinated. The sooner we get more people vaccinated, the sooner we start reliving our lives.”
“If people want business as usual, their kids back in school and playing sport, they should roll up their sleeves and get Covid-19 vaccine,” Dr Nisar said.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is the biggest gift science has provided to humankind. The discovery of a safe and effective vaccine in less than a year is an extraordinary achievement in the history of science,” he added.
The government has decided to act tough against the people who are spreading rumours and are out to create a confusion. “If the misinformation campaign doesn’t stop, people spreading rumours will be identified and dealt according to the law of the land,” said an official.
He said that the officials of the Health Department have been asked to take appropriate measures by using social, print and electronic media to counter the spread of all kind of false information about the COVID-19 vaccines.
They have been asked to ensure dissemination of factual messages, besides broadcasting and telecasting messages of renowned doctors of the district.
According to the media reports in the next phase of vaccination drive Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers of different states will be administered the vaccine shots. “Leaders leading from the front will dispel the fears among the people. Researchers have worked hard to come up with the COVID vaccine. There could slight side effects but that every drug has. Getting vaccinated is the only way out to get rid of the COVID and resume our lives again. We have to come out of this uncertainty and confusion,” said an analyst.
