2400 healthcare workers vaccinated on day-4
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Jan 21: As the Phase-I of the vaccination process continues across the Jammu and Kashmir, authorities have warned of strict action in case of rumour-mongering regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccines that have been approved.
The authorities have also directed the concerned officials to release video messages of the doctors who have been given the vaccine shots to instil faith among the general masses and dispel misconceptions, which several districts, including Srinagar, have started doing. At the same time, the concerned health administrators have been asked to ensure the dissemination of factual messages to counter the false messages that are being spread and are questioning the efficacy of the vaccines that have been approved by the competent authorities.
Meanwhile, on the day-4 of the vaccination drive, around 2400 healthcare workers were vaccinated across J&K at around 45 vaccination sites, thus, taking the number of healthcare workers who were given the first jab to 7000 so far.
Those who were vaccinated across J&K today include renowned doctors such as Dr Sushil Razdan and his wife, Dr Upendra Kaul, along with MD JKSMCL, Dr Yashpal Sharma, General Manager, JKSMCL, Kashmir Dr Abdul Majid Mirab along with scores of CMOs and Medical Superintendents.
With regard to acting on the rumour mongering, one such order has come from the District Magistrate Anantnag and it warned of strict action against those found spreading false information, rumours regarding the safety of the vaccine which is being given to the healthcare workers in the phase-1
Officials said that there have been many unfounded and misleading rumours that were being spread through various mediums and which have resulted in doubts about the safety of the vaccine in use.
“Such kind of rumour-mongering, particularly by the vested interests, can create unwarranted doubts among people at large and there is an immediate need to check all such kinds if unfounded scaremongering relating to the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine,” the order issued by the DM Anantnag read.
In exercise of powers under Section 144 CrPC and Section 34 of Disaster Management Act-2005, the DM, as per the order, has directed the Principal GMC, Anantnag and other officials to take measures to counter the spread of such rumours.
Earlier, a video issued by the District Administration Srinagar featured SKIMS, Director Dr A G Ahanger, renowned scientist and former Director SKIMS, Dr M. S. Khuroo and JLNM’s Dr Bilquees Shah-who have been given the vaccine shots-shared their views post-vaccination and termed it safe.
They impressed on the safety of the vaccine and said that there has been not a single case reported with the adverse effects and everyone was doing well.
An official in the health department said that they are expecting the vaccination to pick up in the coming days. He said that the misconceptions about the vaccine will dispel with the more number of healthcare workers getting vaccinated and the countering the false information is the need of the hour.
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