2,300 Kerala academics skip Covid vaccine citing non secular causes, keep at dwelling

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The authorities’s determination to present exemption to round 2,300 academics and 300 non-teaching workers who refused to take vaccine citing non secular purpose has triggered an issue as it’s discovered to be in opposition to the primarily unanimous assist for Covid vaccine by main non secular teams in different elements of the world. While some among the many group stayed away citing medical grounds, well being consultants stated such excuses are principally untenable and are in opposition to the spirit of science.

The authorities was fast to lend them assist and stated they need to not come to the varsity for the primary two weeks and proceed with the net lessons in the meanwhile. The developments within the state got here at a time when the non secular teams in different states and completely different elements of the world have requested the followers to take the vaccine. Major non secular traditions, denominations and establishments within the US, Israel, Russia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and so forth have lent assist to Covid vaccines after they too confronted anti-vaccination sentiments on non secular grounds. In Malaysia, the non secular head clarified that using Covid vaccine is compulsory for teams recognized by the federal government.

Oxford/AstraZeneca (Covishield) vaccine has been declared as Sharia-compliant by medical and spiritual our bodies. “No religion has opposed vaccination officially. It was inspected and cleared in places where there were doubts on the content of the vaccine,” stated Dr U Nandakumar Nair, chairman of Campaign Against Pseudo Science Using Law and Ethics. 

Health consultants say guideline triggered confusion in folks

“So we can’t accept when people say their reluctance was on religious grounds. It’s more of a personal belief than something to do with religion,” stated Dr U Nandakumar Nair, chairman of Campaign Against Pseudo Science Using Law and Ethics. The state guideline was to make sure vaccination for all folks round college students which included mother and father, academics, nonteaching workers and bus drivers. It was finished to make sure safety for the kids as a part of their proper to well being.

“Children have a right to health which they realise only through the agency of adults around them. People who find excuses in not vaccinating are not adequately respecting the rights of the children,” stated Dr Nandakumar. It has discovered that the final warning within the vaccination guideline for folks with allergic reactions have made folks skip vaccination. However, well being consultants are of the view that the rule triggered confusion in folks.

“There is no need to skip vaccines even if one has food or drug allergies. Moreover, the problems due to allergy should be decided by a doctor when one goes to the vaccination centre. Vaccines give protection to people with all kinds of diseases rather than increasing the danger,” stated Dr Purushothaman Kuzhikkathukandiyil, professor of pediatrics at MES Medical College. “We should not support teachers who skipped vaccination for their convenience. The hesitancy shows their attitude. The government should give them one more chance to get a vaccine at the earliest,” he added.