Govt asks states to take penal action for vaccine-related rumour mongering

As India comes close to vaccinating almost two million health workers within 10 days of the vaccination drive, states have been asked to take penal action against any person or organisation who indulges in vaccine-related rumour mongering.

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in a letter to chief secretaries of all states and union territories, has asked for an appropriate mechanism to be put in place to check the spread of ill-informed rumours. The letter directs all authorities concerned to take necessary measures to counter the spread of false information about Covid-19 vaccines and to promptly disseminate factual messages.

“Further penal action