New Delhi: The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare on Friday appealed to the medical community and frontline workers to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
“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 the disease. It is only with our collective effort that we shall overcome this public health challenge,” Dr Harsh Vardhan urged the likes of doctors, nurses, paramedic workers, anganwadi workers, police personnel, revenue officials.
There are some from the fraternity who are reluctant to get the jab, not sure of the efficacy of the vaccine.
Not for the first time, the minister urged citizens not to fall prey to campaigns of misinformation and falsehood.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing vaccination drive is unfortunately affected by misinformation, rumours and negative messages. Factually incorrect information like infertility due to the vaccine, adverse effects if alcohol is consumed after vaccination 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,” Dr Vardhan said.
Saluting frontline workers, he said: “The nation is indebted and profoundly grateful to the medical fraternity that has relentlessly worked with unhindered commitment and consistency to follow their professional ethics with complete integrity.”
“It is because of your selfless duty and commitment that India has achieved the distinction of having one of the lowest COVID Fatality Rates and is among the nations with the highest Recovery Rates.”
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