During the Covid-19 outbreak, one of the major obstacles to successfully containing its spread was the amount of misinformation being spread regarding the disease, from conspiracy theories and fake treatments to baseless claims of false cures.
Now, as the government rolls out the vaccine, the last thing we need is more such misinformation to take root, nurturing doubt and lies amongst the people, which would only serve to hinder the great progress we have made so far.
Bangladesh has done a tremendous job of recovering from the enormous economic hit felt by nations across the globe, and it is imperative that we ensure an efficient vaccination process which not only prioritizes the health of our citizens, but also encourages people to protect themselves and their dear ones.
There are currently many amongst us who are unwilling to take the vaccine due to doubts over its authenticity and quality, in addition to others who are simply skeptical of its purpose and its overall effectiveness and necessity.
For example, posts stating that the vaccine leads to infertility amongst women have been making the rounds on social media which, experts have reassured us, are unfounded. Furthermore, many remain oblivious to the fact that taking the vaccine can in fact lead to certain side effects, such as fever, headache, pain, and fatigue, all of which are to be expected and are merely signs that our immune system is doing what it is supposed to.
As such, it is of the utmost importance that people are made aware of the facts surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine, and all misconceptions are eradicated. Furthermore, campaigns which highlight the government’s adherence to strict vaccine preservation procedures would go a long way towards building trust between health authorities and the public.
