Times of India: Kerala child rights panel: Treat Anti-vaccine propaganda as non-bailable offence [View all]

[HuckleB]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Kerala-child-rights-panel-Treat-Anti-vaccine-propaganda-as-non-bailable-offence/articleshow/53366089.cms

"In the wake of drop in the immunisation rate in parts of Kerala including the districts of Malappuram and Kasaragod and outbreak of diseases such as Diphtheria, Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) has directed the health department secretary to take stock of the situation across the state and to strengthen the immunisation drive on an emergency basis.

The commission division bench, led by its chairperson Shoba Koshy and members K Nazeer and Glory George, has issued the directive indicating that for the immunisation drive, there should not be a crunch in financial support and indifference of the staff. In coordination with the child protection centres, the immunisation drive of administering vaccines against various diseases should be totally ensured in the state, the commission members said. In case of any violation, notices should be issued to such child protection organisations by the Social Justice Department of the state.

Without scientific proof, false and baseless anti-vaccine propaganda has to be treated as a non-bailable offence in view of public health. Special legal proceedings should be in place with the government powers to ensure total immunisation drive, the commission held.

Awareness and sensitisation on immunisation drive as part of public service advertising should be strengthened in the state through print, audio-visual media, publications and social forum, the commission held. The commission has sought the health secretary to formulate a policy with legal backing to end the false propaganda of the anti-vaccine lobby. Public service advertising against the anti-vaccine lobby and on the need for immunisation against diseases should be carried out for three years with follow-ups through video clippings, documentaries, short films which can be telecast on television channels and screened at cinema theatres.

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Anti-vaccine nonsense is simply indefensible. It starts with the comfortable, but it harms the most vulnerable. It should not be tolerated in any way, at DU.