Guj:'Around 17 lakh kids vaccinated in 2 days despite negative

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Despite a "negative" social media campaign, around 17 lakh children in Gujarat have been administered the Measles-Rubella vaccine during the first two days of the ongoing vaccination drive, state Chief Secretary J N Singh said today.

He said the government would form teams of doctors and paramedics, if needed, to counter the social media rumours that the vaccine has caused side-effects and long-term adverse effects.

The state government had launched the five-week vaccination campaign on July 16. The drive intends to vaccinate 1.6 crore children between the age of nine months to 15 years across the state.

Stressing that the vaccine is 100 per cent safe, the chief secretary said, "despite a negative campaign on the social media, around 17 lakh children have been administered the vaccine during the first two days".

The vaccine is being administered free of cost at all government hospitals.

Countering the rumours, Singh said the government would convince parents of the children to bring them for vaccination and not believe in rumours.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who also holds Health portfolio, said the rumours and misinformationabout the side effects of the vaccine are false.

"Crores of children from various states had received the vaccination in the past," he said.

Vadodara-based cricketer Irfan Pathan has also appealed to the people, through a video made by the city civic body, to get their children vaccinated.