Role of media key to clearing myths, doubts about vaccines: Health expert
Siliguri, Dec 18 (PTI) Media’s role is crucial in creating awareness among people about government health services and also for clearing myths and doubts about vaccines, an expert said.
Media can also play a key role in helping the West Bengal government and Unicef in carrying out 100 per cent immunisation drives in the state by spreading the message that vaccines are safe and effective in preventing diseases, Dr Suresh Thakur, health officer, UNICEF, West Bengal, said.
“Media’s role is very important in creating awareness among the general population about government health services and in clearing doubts on immunisation programmes,” Thakur told PTI on the sidelines of a workshop on development journalism for healthcare issues held in Siliguri recently.
The workshop was organised by Kolkata Press Club in collaboration with Unicef, West Bengal.
“The media has done excellent work in the past to improve awareness and we look forward to their support in future too,” the health officer said.
Unicef regularly conducts communication awareness programmes and media’s role is very important, he added.
“Whenever campaigns are conducted for immunisation drives, we organise a sensitisation programme for the media so that they can help in creating awareness among people,” Thakur said.
Vaccinations are considered the most cost-effective intervention that can improve the overall health of children.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) report of 2019-2020, eighty-eight per cent of children in West Bengal, within the age group 12-23 months, have received all basic vaccinations against six major childhood illnesses –tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles.
