Gandhinagar:

Amid various ill-intended rumours about Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine on social media and among common folk especially Muslim community, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani today appealed people to not to lend years to these as the vaccine has successfully been given to lakhs of children before commencement of MMR immunization drive in the state on July 16.

He, however, said that he would order a probe in to the reported death of a boy and a girl after immunization.

Principal Secretary health Ms Jayanti Ravi also said that the vaccine was completely safe. ‘Such drive in 30 states have already been completed successfully. Not even a single adverse effect was reported. The WHO and UNICEF and Indian Pediatrics Association have all termed it safe. Researches conducted on the vaccine also confirm it and say that there was no adverse effect of it in short or long term,’ she said.

Notably, Muslim community in the state was showing reluctance to participate in the drive as rumours about it that by taking it the child would become impotent (as was rumoured during polio vaccination drive too) and that there was swine fat in the vaccination were doing the rounds on social media and among common folk.

DeshGujarat