Measles, rubella vaccination safe: Nawanshahr DC

Following rumours on social media that measles-rubella vaccination could harm children, the Nawanshahr district administration today assured people that the vaccine was completely safe.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar termed the rumours on social media an "act of anti-social people".

A video has gone viral on social media, allegedly warning people against the vaccination.

"The viral video on vaccination is without any basis," Kumar said.

Civil Surgeon Gurinder Kaur Chawla, too, said the video was misleading.

She said nearly 50,000 children die every year in India because of measles and that a drive against the disease is being launched in the state from tomorrow under the supervision of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

She said since many people were finding it difficult to administer the vaccine to their children aged between nine months and 15 years because of the high cost of the vaccine, the government has decided to provide it free of cost.

She said not one case has gone wrong, though nearly eight crore children have been administered the vaccine across the country.

District Education Officer Vinod Kumar said his department will cooperate with the health department to ensure the drive is successfull. He said schools have been directed to ensure 100 per cent vaccination of students in that category.