11 February 2021 12:00 am
By JAMILA HUSAIN
Following social media reports stating that consumption of alcohol and smoking should be halted after individuals get themselves vaccinated for COVID-19, health officials yesterday said there was no truth to these reports however people were encouraged to avoid these habits for a few days after being inoculated.
Senior health officials told Daily Mirror that following social media reports that such habits should be banned for at least 6 months after individuals are vaccinated, several citizens had shown their displeasure in going ahead with the vaccinations. However, there was no truth to such reports but it was up to each individual to act wisely.
“The vaccination programme should counter such false theories. As only then we can encourage a larger population to get vaccinated,” the senior official said.
Social media posts which spread rapidly last week went on to state that bars would be closed and cigarettes would be banned after the government kicks off its mass inoculation program from next month.
The government aims to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its target groups by this year.