Wednesday, Dec 6, 2023
English News
  • Hyderabad
  • Telangana
  • AP News
  • India
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Science and Tech
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rewind
  • ...
    • NRI
    • View Point
    • cartoon
    • Columns
    • Education Today
    • Reviews
    • Property
    • Videos
    • Lifestyle
E-Paper
  • NRI
  • View Point
  • cartoon
  • Columns
  • Reviews
  • Education Today
  • Property
  • Videos
  • Lifestyle
Home | Editorials | Editorial Stop Canards Against Vaccines

Editorial: Stop canards against vaccines

It is reprehensible to invoke religious fears to spread falsehood against vaccines

By Telangana Today
Published Date - 12:00 AM, Sat - 19 June 21
Editorial: Stop canards against vaccines
It is reprehensible to invoke religious fears to spread falsehood against vaccines
whatsapp facebook twitter telegram

Bigotry, superstition, fear-mongering and anti-science positioning have been the major hurdles to vaccination missions around the world over decades. Unfounded fears, often invoking religious sentiments, feed into vaccine hesitancy among the people. Despite the vast scientific advancements and incontrovertible evidence in favour of vaccines to fight various diseases, every country is confronting a small section of naysayers who continue to spread canards about new vaccines. The recent controversy over the alleged presence of calf serum in Covaxin, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, falls into this category. Such unseemly controversies, deliberately created by mischievous elements to spread fear and confusion among the people about the vaccines, must be nipped in the bud on the strength of science and logic. Both the Central government and the vaccine maker did well to swiftly clarify that Covaxin does not contain new-born calf serum. It is unfortunate that the social media coordinator of the Congress, Gaurav Pandhi, who peddled the calf serum theory, had twisted the facts to fuel vaccine hesitancy and accused the NDA government of betraying “faith and belief” of the people. He had claimed that the blood of 20-day-old bovine calves was used to make the vaccine after slaughtering them. When rumours spread on social media and questions were raised about vaccines, the Health Ministry came out with a quick clarification. Globally, it is a standard practice to use different kinds of bovine and other animal serum for the growth of vero cells — lineage of cells used for pathogen culture — but it was not used in the growth of SARS CoV2 virus or in the final formulation of the vaccine. Covaxin uses the same standard practice used for all vaccines for the last 50 years, including Polio.

It is reprehensible to invoke religious fears to spread falsehood against vaccines. In the recent past, some Muslim clerics had raised concerns over the alleged use of pork gelatin in Covid-19 vaccines. And some Hindu religious leaders sought clarification from the government over the reported use of cow blood. While consumption of pork in any form is ‘haram’ or forbidden in Islam, the cow is revered in Hinduism. Sections of the Christian community across the world also debated the acceptability of vaccines due to the alleged use of aborted foetal tissue. Finally, the Vatican — the highest seat of Catholic Christianity — declared that it is “morally acceptable” to receive Covid-19 vaccines. Superstitions and archaic beliefs appear to be the key reason for the hesitation among some people in voluntarily taking the vaccine shots. There is a need to educate citizens, particularly in rural areas, about taking the vaccine to save lives.



Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.

Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .


 

  • Follow Us :
  • Tags
  • Bharat Biotech
  • Covaxin
  • Gaurav Pandhi
  • NDA government

Related News

  • Editorial: Surveillance Republic

    Editorial: Surveillance Republic

  • Editorial: A welcome climbdown

    Editorial: A welcome climbdown

  • Editorial: Muzzling the media

    Editorial: Muzzling the media

  • Study says there’s no link between Covid vaccines used in India and heart attack

    Study says there’s no link between Covid vaccines used in India and heart attack

  • All You Should Know About ADULT VACCINES | Influenza, Hepatitis A and B, And Others

    All You Should Know About ADULT VACCINES | Influenza, Hepatitis A and B, And Others

  • Editorial: Return of License Raj

    Editorial: Return of License Raj

Latest News

  • Actor Arvind Krishna shines at the International 3BL Basketball league

    3 mins ago
  • Netizens not impressed with ‘Dunki’ trailer, call it ‘underwhelming’

    21 mins ago
  • Highest number of BSF personnel followed by CRPF opting for voluntary retirement: Govt

    23 mins ago
  • OUJAC stops furniture being shifted from Ravindra Bharati

    50 mins ago
  • From NRI in Gulf to MLA in Telangana: The journey of Paidi Rakesh Reddy

    17 mins ago
  • Welcome to the movies: Abhishek Bachchan to nephew Agastya post ‘The Archies’ premiere

    2 hours ago
  • Hyderabad’s Roastery Coffee House set for global debut, unveiling flagship outlet in Finland

    2 hours ago
  • Tight security in Hyderabad on Babri Masjid demolition anniversary

    2 hours ago

company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

business

  • Subscribe

telangana today

  • Telangana
  • Hyderabad
  • Latest News
  • Entertainment
  • World
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Science & Tech
  • Sport

follow us

© Copyrights 2022 TELANGANA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD. All rights reserved. Powered by Veegam