Photo of PM Modi on Vaccine certificate: Minister justifies move in Parliament

Aug. 12: PM Modi’s photo on the vaccine certificate stirred up a political controversy following which several state governments issued vaccine certificates with state chief ministers’ photos on them when states were buying vaccine from the Centre. Congress Rajya Sabha MP and former journalist Kumar Ketkar raised this issue in the Parliament. Ketkar had asked if it is necessary and compulsory to print photographs of the prime minister on the Covid-19 vaccination certificates. Ketkar also asked for reasons behind the decision and who had made it compulsory.

The Minister of State for Health, Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday in a written reply that, “Given the context of the pandemic, its evolving nature and the fact that following of Covid-appropriate behaviours has emerged as one of the most critical measures for preventing the spread of disease. The photograph along with the message of the prime minister in the vaccination certificates reinforces the message for creating awareness about the importance of following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour even after vaccination, in the larger public interest.”

“The format of vaccination certificate, compliant with WHO norms for vaccination certificates, including the message and presentation about the importance of following Covid-appropriate behaviour even after vaccination, has been decided keeping all these factors in consideration. All states and Union Territories are using CoWIN application for COVID-19 vaccination and vaccination certificates are generated through CoWIN in a standard format,” the minister said.