BENGALURU: Vaccination drive against measles and rubella for children aged between 9 months and 15 years has triggered fear among a number of parents in the city.
They have strongly opposed the mandatory MR vaccination at all the government and private schools of the state. Many of the parents have shot off letters to schools asking them not to give vaccination to children without their consent.
Buckling under pressure, the CBSE schools association in the state has already decided not to allow vaccination without parents’ consent.
“This has become a big issue now. Even we were confused as many parents were not okay with vaccination. We finally decided to go ahead with a child’s vaccination only in case we received consent from parents,” Mansoor Ali Khan, Board member of Delhi Public School, said.
“All the CBSE schools are doing the same,” he added.
However, the state board school association decided to go ahead with the drive after trying to convince the parents.
D Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in the state said, “We also had doubts initially, but later we realised the importance of the vaccination. We will try to convince all the parents. If still a parent says no to vaccination, we cannot force.”
“Parents are apprehensive about its adverse effects. They fear it might trigger the earlier vaccination. Some even used students’ diaries to voice their concerns,” said principal of one of the top schools in the city.
An online campaign was earlier launched in this regard by a group of parents.
Kishore BM, a parent, told Express, “Why should we agree for the vaccination when we have already completed the course as advised by our paediatrician. The government must show the number of cases reported before starting the drive.”
Another parent Praveen Rao said, “The drug is being supplied by a private manufacturer at discounted rates. I wonder why has he become so generous. And my question is, how can a government take a decision on behalf of parents.”
“When the schools object our kids to eat from some other student’s lunch box, how will they allow the health department officials to vaccinate in our absence.” asked another parent.
Parent Ranjitha Prashanth said, “Neither government nor school can take such a decision on my behalf. There is something fishy behind the drive.”
“When the schools object our kids to eat from some other student’s lunch box, how will they allow the health department officials to vaccinate in our absence.” asked another parent.