A 103-year old woman receiving her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine during home visit by a Health Worker in Keltomi village under Aghunato block, Zunheboto on June 13. (Photo Courtesy: IEC Bureau, CMO Office Zunheboto)
Nagaland medical experts rubbish rumours about COVID-19 vaccine
Atono Tsükru Kense
Kohima | June 13
On the conspiracy theories and propaganda surrounding COVID-19 vaccine, particularly the labelling of COVID-19 vaccine as ‘mark of the beast’ which is stopping citizens from getting inoculated, few youths and Church leaders have expressed their views and observation in the first series as reported by The Morung Express. They have dismissed the misinformation as “baseless and biblically unacceptable.”
Medical experts across the globe have been appealing that people should get vaccinated stating that COVID appropriate behaviours and vaccination will go a long way in saving lives.
“The vaccine is not a cure. It is a layer of protection. The vaccine helps you protect from developing severe symptoms from the virus so you do not die. It also reduces the risk of spreading the virus so other people do not die,” says a video message from an Emergency Room circulated in various social media platforms.
Vaccine reduces morbidity, mortality
Rubbishing rumours about the vaccine as unverified and unfounded, State Immunisation Officer, DoHFW, Dr Ritu Thurr speaking to The Morung Express said we should not be carried away by propaganda. This is not a policy to detect developmental activities. We have to protect human lives, he said.
Dwelling on the benefits of inoculation, Dr Thurr explained that though not 100%, the vaccine protects the individual from COVID infection by reducing morbidity and mortality.
Even if one is re-infected after vaccination, the severity is less as it provides a layer of protection, he said.
Dr Thurr also informed that 99.9% mortality cases during the second wave involved unvaccinated individuals and those partially vaccinated with co-morbidities.
“To take vaccine or not is a personal choice. We are not dragging anyone out of their houses for vaccination, but for the sake of humanity to provide protection from this virus; we are carrying out the vaccination,” Dr Thurr stated.
“Knowing the impending third wave, our objective is to provide protection to the people. We are giving equity and accessibility to the people as we are going on an intensive mode as we want to give protection to our citizens,” he said.
Vaccine is the only weapon
Emphasising that vaccine is the only weapon we have to get rid of the virus, Principal Director of the State Health & Family Welfare Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao said the more the vaccination is done, the infection will automatically drop.
Dismissing the rumours, he also questioned what more can be done when the only weapon available in the form of vaccine for the security and protection of the people, is being discouraged.
“This is the ultimate thing as far as the medical science is concerned,” said Dr Khimiao and explained that vaccine is given to create antibody inside the system, so that even when one is infected, it will not manifest in severe form of taking one’s life.
Citing real life experiences during the outbreak of small pox which wiped out a good number of population forcing people to flee to the jungles abandoning their villages, Dr Khimiao pointed out that what we once thought was impossible has been eradicated with vaccine.
“COVID-19 is a viral infection and very peculiar, and the virus is changing its form as the time goes by,” explained Dr Khimiao, while emphasizing the importance of inoculation rather than believing in the rumours blindly.
Rumour mongers should be penalised
Another doctor while dismissing the rumours remarked that no citizen should propagate such misleading information to the public and opined that rumour mongers should be penalised.
“Bringing religious ideologies into the affairs of medical treatment, particularly in this kind of epidemic is uncalled for,” the doctor stated.
He expressed dismay at the mentality of the people in Nagaland regarding the vaccine at a time when millions of people are being vaccinated across the globe, dramatically reducing the virus incidences.
“When we are trying to propagate and encourage the people to take the vaccine to protect and save lives, these kinds of rumours are hampering our efforts,” said an exasperated doctor.
Despite the rumours and scepticism around the vaccine, the Department of Health & Family Welfare has kick started an 11-day intensified vaccination drive to enable maximum coverage of all eligible beneficiaries in the State.
This is the second of a two-part series.
