Trust deficit' hurts anti-measles drive

New Delhi: The same mix of fear and mistrust is back with the launch of Measles Rubella vaccine. Days after the government launched the MR vaccine, it is busy dispelling myths about the medicine. Muslim-dominated districts — just as they were wary of polio drops — are anxious with opponents claiming that the harm due to vaccine is greater than the benefit.

The rumour that vaccines are an instrument used by the government to shrink the Muslim community started circulating in no time.

The result is that people are skipping the government-sponsored vaccination drive and the campaign has not reached as many children as it was intended for. In early February, India launched one of world’s largest vaccination campaigns against measles — a major childhood killer disease — and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in five states and UTs.

However, with the target of vaccinating 3.5 crore children yet to be achieved, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Lakhwadeep have decided to extend the vaccination drive till March 20.

Dr Asma Zehra, working committee member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), blames “trust” deficit between the government and Muslims for the situation.

“The problem is parents are not taken on board before the vaccine was introduced. There was no proper information given to the parents about the vaccine, so why would they get their children vaccinated?” she said.

Dr Zehra said that in a free country, vaccine should be a matter of choice. “Vaccine is a matter of choice. India is a free country; the government should not be imposing it. There has to be certain channel and procedure. You just cannot start vaccinating children abruptly,” she added.

The resistance is experienced in all Muslim-dominated districts and states. But campaigns like “Mashaaalah I am a brave kid, I got vaccinated” that was started in Karnataka is finally yielding results.