Action against those spreading rumours about vaccines, govt warns

The central government on Monday warned penal action will be taken against those spreading "unfounded and misleading rumours" about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Reportedly, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in a letter to states and union territories urged them to ‘counter the spread of all such kind of false information’ and also ‘disseminate factual messages’. Pointing fingers at "rumour-mongering, particularly by vested interests", for the doubts being raised, the Centre said both Covid vaccines in use in India had been found to be "safe and immunogenic". Spreading rumours could cause "unwarranted doubts among people at large", the Centre has said.