Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi Urges People To Overcome COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 27) applauded the country’s commendable momentum on the vaccination front and urges the nation to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Addressing the “Mann Ki Baat” radio programme, PM Modi said that India achieved a historic achievement by vaccinating more than 86 lakh people in a day. “The battle we the countrymen are fighting against corona is continuing, but in this fight, together, we’ve achieved many an extraordinary milestone! Just a few days ago, our country accomplished an unprecedented feat. On June 21, when the new phase of vaccine drive began, more than 86 lakh people made a record of receiving free vaccines doses in a day,” he said.

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He talked to two villagers of Dulariya village in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh who informed about vaccine hesitancy being spread in their village through social media. The Prime Minister counselled them to take the COVID vaccine amidst their doubts. PM informed the villagers to not believe in rumours and said,

I have taken both doses. My mother is almost a hundred years old, she has taken both vaccines too. Please do not believe any negative rumours relating to vaccines.

He said that those who are spreading rumours on vaccines, let them be. “We all will do our work and ensure people around us get vaccinated,” he said.

I want to tell villagers to get rid of vaccine hesitancy. There are many villages in India that are 100 per cent vaccinated, PM Modi stated.

The Prime Minister said the threat of COVID-19 remains and people have to focus on vaccination as well as following coronavirus protocols.

I urge you all to trust science. Trust our scientists. So many people have taken the vaccine. Let us never believe in negative rumours relating to the vaccine, he added.

He further praised the awareness and intelligence of people living in villages during COVID-19 and said,

People in the villages made quarantine centres, and made covid protocols keeping in mind the ground level requirements. In villages, people did not let anyone sleep hungry and didn’t let the agriculture work stop either. They also ensured supply of milk and vegetables in nearby villages, they not only sustained themselves but sustained others too.

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National Doctor’s Day 2021:

Further addressing Mann ki Baat, PM Modi had said,

A few days from now, on July 1, we will celebrate National Doctors’ Day. This day is dedicated to the birth anniversary of the great doctor and statesman of the country, Dr BC Roy. We are all grateful for the contribution of doctors during the Corona period. Our doctors have served us without caring about their lives. Therefore, this time National Doctors’ Day becomes even more special.

Hours after PM Modi praised doctors for going out of their way to extend help to people during the coronavirus pandemic, IMA President Dr JA Jayalal said that the PM has assured that doctors will be respected, protected and safeguarded.

Like every year, the country will be celebrating National Doctors’ Day on July 1 to honour the contributions of the doctors. The first National Doctor’s Day was celebrated in the country in July 1991.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.