Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday addressed the hesitancy that still revolves around covid-19 vaccine safety and efficacy. Even as it has been over two months since India started world’s largest inoculation programme against the deadly coronavirus, many Indians are still hesitant in administering vaccine doses. While India do not have any shortage of vaccine doses, the number of people that were to receive vaccine shots have shows decline while coronavirus cases in the country continue to mount at an alarming rate.
“Both Indian vaccines are safe and effective. A lot of people still have doubts regarding vaccines. I urge them not to believe what is being circulated in WhatsApp university,” Vardhan said, according to news agency ANI.
The minister also talked about misinformation that is being spread regarding the vaccine on WhatsApp.
“There are only a few rare cases wherein people contracted Covid-19 after taking vaccines. Even if someone tests positive after taking vaccines, it minimalises the chances of their hospitalisation or admission to ICU wards,” he added.
The minister made the remarks when he and his wife , Nutan Goel, received the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. They had received the first shot of the vaccine on March 2.
