Myths and Facts around vaccination
Vaccinations are one of the most important contributions to public health and have helped the human civilization battle epidemic and endemic diseases. Smallpox and measles are two primary examples of diseases that took away the lives of millions until vaccination was introduced. Since then society has achieved total eradication of smallpox and brought the spread of measles under control through vaccination alone. Polio, which was widely prevalent is India, is a more recent example of a disease that has been brought under control through vaccination and is on its way to extinction.
While there is a long way to go and research is underway to examine the scope of vaccination to halt major diseases of today like cancer and AIDs, childhood and adult vaccinations to prevent diseases such as Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Influenza, Chickenpox, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, among many others are widely used today.
Myth #1: Giving my child a vaccination will make them fall ill
Fact: A vaccination contains a very washed down, dilute or inactive strain of the disease causing virus. The purpose of the vaccine is to nudge the child’s immune system into producing the antibodies required to defend the body against the virus. Sometimes the child may develop a reaction from the body such as a mild fever but this is temporary and a normal reaction. The virus is not strong enough to cause a full blown disease in the person.
Myth #2: My child will develop immunity through natural methods
Fact: Building one’s immune system comprises of many other factors such as genetic make-up, healthy diet, active lifestyle, good living environment, etc and vaccinations form a part of this system. Vaccinations will help your child build immunity against some of the more common and dangerous strains of viruses prevalent today. This is not to say that your child will not be able to produce antibodies to fight the disease should it strike them some day.
Myth #3: My child will be able to battle the disease when it comes
Fact: Vaccinations are just a way to safeguard oneself from the virus and prevent having to endure the trauma and pain of battling the disease. A child who has had a chickenpox vaccine has far less risk of contracting chickenpox and going through the entire course of the disease (sometimes the child has to miss out a significant portion of their developmental period to heal from chickenpox, for eg missing a year of school) that a child who hasn’t.
Myth #4: There is no danger from these diseases anymore
Fact: Vaccination has the potential to completely eradicate a disease as in the example of small-pox. Once the disease is completely eradicated and this has been recognized globally, only then is it advisable to ignore a vaccine. Until then, it is the responsibility of society at large to help prevent the disease’s progression onto the next generation. Vaccination is an extremely effective way of doing this.
Myth #5: I don’t need a vaccination once I have grown up
Fact: Although many adults avoid vaccinations, it is advisable to go for regular follow ups or booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria, Hepatitis, meningitis etc. Depending on situations, age, health status etc, certain vaccines are recommended. For example, it is mandatory for people travelling to a place like Africa to take a shot for yellow fever or to take TB, typhoid shots before travelling to European countries etc. Older people are advised to take a pneumococcal vaccine as they are prone to developing pneumonia beyond the age of 60.
Sometimes people are not entirely aware of vaccinations and do not completely trust the benefits, however rest assured that all vaccinations recommended by doctors today, particularly for the newborn infant are well-tested for safety and efficacy through medical trials and testing before it is introduced to the market.
Authored by Dr. Brunda M S, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital
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Trouble ‘Miyas’ everywhere only then they will leave Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Says “Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP are openly against them, we are saying it openly
New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that four to five lakh “Miya voters” would be removed from the electoral rolls in the state once the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists is carried out. He also made a series of controversial remarks openly targeting the Miya community, a term commonly used in Assam in a derogatory sense to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official programme in Digboi in Tinsukia district, Sarma said it was his responsibility to create difficulties for the Miya community and claimed that both he and the BJP were “directly against Miyas”.
“Four to five lakh Miya votes will have to be deleted in Assam when the SIR happens,” Sarma said, adding that such voters “should ideally not be allowed to vote in Assam, but in Bangladesh”. He asserted that the government was ensuring that they would not be able to vote in the state.
The chief minister was responding to questions about notices issued to thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims during the claims and objections phase of the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls in Assam. While the Election Commission is conducting SIR exercises in 12 states and Union Territories, Assam is currently undergoing an SR, which is usually meant for routine updates.
Calling the current SR “preliminary”, Sarma said that a full-fledged SIR in Assam would lead to large-scale deletion of Miya voters. He said he was unconcerned about criticism from opposition parties over the issue.
“Let the Congress abuse me as much as they want. My job is to make the Miya people suffer,” Sarma said. He claimed that complaints filed against members of the community were done on his instructions and that he had encouraged BJP workers to keep filing complaints.
“I have told people wherever possible they should fill Form 7 so that they have to run around a little and are troubled,” he said, adding that such actions were meant to send a message that “the Assamese people are still living”.
In remarks that drew further outrage, Sarma urged people to trouble members of the Miya community in everyday life, claiming that “only if they face troubles will they leave Assam”. He also accused the media of sympathising with the community and warned journalists against such coverage.
“So you all should also trouble, and you should not do news that sympathise with them. There will be love jihad in your own house.” He said.
The comments triggered reactions from opposition leaders. Raijor Dal president and MLA Akhil Gogoi said the people of Assam had not elected Sarma to keep one community under constant pressure. Congress leader Aman Wadud accused the chief minister of rendering the Constitution meaningless in the state, saying his remarks showed a complete disregard for constitutional values.
According to the draft electoral rolls published on December 27, Assam currently has 2.51 crore voters. Election officials said 4.78 lakh names were marked as deceased, 5.23 lakh as having shifted, and 53,619 duplicate entries were removed during the revision process. Authorities also claimed that verification had been completed for over 61 lakh households.
On January 25, six opposition parties the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(M-L) submitted a memorandum to the state’s chief electoral officer. They alleged widespread legal violations, political interference and selective targeting of genuine voters during the SR exercise, describing it as arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional.
