23rd December, 2008

Dear President, 

Click here to read "Let Rumours Do Not affect Polio Immunization" by RID Ahok Mahajan

The December 21^st NID was held across the country with children of five yrs and below being administered Polio drops that will help protect them from contracting Polio. 

However the Polio immunization drive in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka got disrupted due to a baseless rumour that found ground amongst ignorant parents. A private channel in a running scroll claimed that a child had died in Erode (T.N) district after taking the Pulse Polio drops. This led to a disruption in immunizing children as thousands of parents and residents were left panicking and agitated because of the news. Local residents went on a rampage in many parts of the State causing damages before the reason for the child’s death could be explained. Within no time the false rumour had spread to other parts in Tamil Nadu and adjacent regions in Karnataka leading to further chaos and disruptions. 

The Government Health Department has clarified that the four-month-old baby in question in Erode had died of hydrocephalus, a congenital disorder of excess fluid in the brain and not because of any lapse or contamination in the polio drops. And that all other babies administered polio drops at the same centre have been reported healthy. But this is not enough.

Since rumours in the past have had a very negative impact on the campaign, the India National PolioPlus Committee believes that a press meet with the local media is imperative to update them about the incident and also to clear any myths or rumours associated with the ongoing Pulse Polio campaign. Further, this will also help dispel the fear that parents have felt and send a strong message that the Polio vaccine is safe and important for a child’s health. 

With this in mind, you are requested to conduct a press briefing at the earliest to clear the air of suspicion and doubt created because of this incident. During your meet do please stress on the following key messages: 

1)      the oral Polio vaccine is completely safe

2)      the same vaccine was administered to children in other parts of the state and the country without any report of complications

3)      the child in question died of hydrocephalus - a congenital disorder of excess fluid in the brain – and not due to Polio vaccine as falsely reported.

4)      The Pulse Polio drops has prevented more than 40 lakh children from contracting Polio in the country and is the best way to protect children against Polio. 

With warm regards,

Deepak Kapur

Chairman