Covid Vaccine Drive in Pakistan Gets Mired in Myths
Several videos circulating on social media and video platform YouTube unearth new propaganda against the vaccine that increases reluctance in the nation
Although Pakistan has been able to keep coronavirus at bay with its effective strategies, the myths and misinformation, besides tight resources, around covid vaccine still pose a gigantic threat in the achievement of herd immunity.
The federal government aims to inoculate 70% population by the end of the current year by scrimping and saving for the drug.
However, abound myths, misconceptions, and religious beliefs regarding covid vaccine have become so prevalent in Pakistan that it has been to confine people from receiving the jabs.
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The unauthenticated information is shared widely on messaging platforms like WhatsApp and social media sites like Facebook and creates a fission effect to sow misbeliefs about the drug.
The masses are instilled that they are being infused with a tracking chip or the vaccination is aimed at hampering population growth by increasing fertility among men and women.
The propaganda has thus affected covid immunization drive to a huge extent as the facts have been able to persuade people to prefer getting contracting the fatal virus over getting vaccinated.
A large number of people are also convinced, despite clarifications, that the vaccine is haram as it contains prohibited substances.
Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar revealed this week that nearly 0.3 million people missed out on their second dose of vaccine.
To combat propaganda, he added that the government has set up call centers to convince people to get their second jabs.
