Why is Indian PM Modi's photo missing from Covid vaccine certificates? Centre responds
File photo.
Several Indians on the social media platform X pointed outin recent daysthat the photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not visible in the COVID-19 vaccine certificates when downloaded.
“Modi ji no more visible on Covid Vaccine certificates. Just downloaded to check - yes, his pic is gone,"Sandeep Manudhane wrote in a post on X.
Another user on the social media platform confirmed that the photo was missing. So what's the reason behind this?
AstraZeneca'sdamming admission on vaccine
The development came even as pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca recently admitted that its vaccine against coronavirus, Covishield, can causeThrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a rare condition whichleadsto the formation of blood clots and lowered platelet count.
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Covishieldwas manufacturedby the Serum Institute of India (SII)under a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca. It was one of the vaccines administered in India against Covid.
Several users on X speculated whether the removal ofModi'sphoto from vaccination certificates was spurred byAstraZeneca'sdamming admission.
Centre respondson removal ofModi'sphoto
So why wasModi'sphotograph removed?
Speaking to The Print website, officials from the central health ministry said the photograph was removeddue to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country.
Also watch | Gravitas:Astrazeneca admits to vaccine side effects
The Print report said this was not the first timethatModi'sphoto was removedfrom vaccination certificates.
In 2022,his photo was removedfrom vaccination certificates in five states-Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa at the instructions of the election commission ahead of the assembly polls in these states.
(With inputs from agencies)