Hoaxes, doctored videos and far-fetched rumours are emerging as some of the biggest threats to India's massive coronavirus vaccine drive, with misinformation blamed for sluggish initial take-ups. There has long been deep distrust of government health programmes throughout the vast nation of 1.3 billion people, particularly among minority communities, making a strong foundation
Misinformation blamed for slow start to India vaccine drive
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A health worker performs a trial run of the COVID-19 vaccine delivery system in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. India will kick off the coronavirus vaccination drive on Jan. 16 to stem the pandemic in the world’s second-most populous country. A Health Ministry statement says that priority will be given to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers, estimated around 30 million. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
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. Updated: 20 Jan 2021, 03:16 PM IST AFP
Hoaxes, doctored videos and far-fetched rumours are emerging as some of the biggest threats to India s massive coronavirus vaccine drive, with misinformation blamed for sluggish initial take-ups
COVID-19: Rights groups urge priority vaccination for persons with disabilities
Ektha co-founder Rajiv Rajan said persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable groups when it comes to the pandemic.
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A health official shows a Covaxin vaccine dose at a hospital in New Delhi. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS) By PTI
NEW DELHI: Around 30 disability rights organisations have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan urging them to accord priority to persons with disabilities for COVID-19 vaccination.
The disability rights groups, including the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, Ektha and Sama Foundation, highlighted several reasons why persons with disabilities should receive the shots on priority.
Covid-19 vaccination drive in India: Dos, don ts and possible side effects
As world s largest vaccination drive began in India on January 16, the Centre released a factsheet stating all do s, don ts and possible side effects of the two vaccines Covishield and Covaxin approved for the emergency use in December.
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(L-R): Covishield; Illustration by Bandeep Singh; Covaxin
The mega vaccination drive has already kicked off across with India with
over 3.8 lakh people inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine so far. Besides, 580 adverse events following immunisation were reported in the country and two out of seven people who developed severe adverse symptoms after receiving the first jab died.