Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined that both he and his nonagenarian mother Heeraben Modi were fully vaccinated against the virus and urged people to trust science as avoiding inoculation can prove to be "dangerous".

Addressing the issue of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among sections of people in his monthly radio programme, Modi stated: "I have myself been vaccinated with both doses. And my mother is close to a hundred years of age... she too has taken both doses. At times, some people develop fever but it is very minor, just for a few hours. Not getting vaccinated can prove dangerous." 

He urged the people to follow all COVID-19 protocols during upcoming festivals.

Saying it is crucial that vaccine hesitancy, which was fanned by rumours, was addressed, he said India achieved the feat of inoculating a million people in a single day.
 
"During festivals and gaiety, do remember that corona is not yet gone from amidst us. You do not have to forget COVID-19 related protocols," he warned.

India has so far vaccinated only about 6 per cent of its 900 million eligible population, with about 20 per cent getting at least a single dose. Modi was largely addressing the vaccine hesitancy in the rural areas of the country. (SAM)