NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the people to shed vaccine hesitancy and take the Covid shots in large numbers. In his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, Modi cited the example of his mother to underscore that the vaccines are safe and there was no reason to fear.
“My mother is close to 100 years of age. She too has taken both doses. At times, some people develop fever on account of this, but it’s very minor, just for a few hours. Not getting vaccinated can prove dangerous,” he said.
The Prime Minister hailed the feat of over 86 lakh doses being administered in a single day on June 21 at the start of the new phase of inoculation under which all adults are being given free jabs by the Union government. “The battle we the countrymen are fighting against corona is continuing. But in this fight, together we have achieved many an extraordinary milestone! Just a few days ago, our country accomplished an unprecedented feat.
On the 21st of June, the next phase of the vaccination campaign commenced and that very day, the country registered a record of administering vaccines to over 86 lakh people, free of cost, that too on a single day! Such a huge number of free vaccinations by the Government of India; that too in a day,” the PM added. If someone says corona is gone, do not be under this mistaken notion, Modi said, adding that the virus is a “master of disguise” which surfaces in myriad new forms, a reference to its mutants.
“To protect ourselves from it, we have two ways. One is adhering to the protocol for corona; wearing a mask, frequently washing hands with soap, maintaining social distancing. The other way is, along with all this, getting vaccinated,” he said.
PM Modi urged people not to pay attention to rumours and get vaccinated while encouraging others also to do the same. He underlined that scientists had worked very hard to come up with vaccines and they were absolutely safe. “Those who are spreading rumours on vaccines, let them be. We all will do our work and ensure people around us get vaccinated. The threat of Covid remains and we have to focus on vaccination as well as follow Covid-19 protocols,” Modi said.