The ongoing Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the district suffered a blow on Thursday when a group of parents attacked a junior public health nurse while giving the vaccine to children at a primary school in Edayoor panchayat.
The nurses have threatened to launch an agitation by boycotting the vaccination programme if the culprits are not arrested before 8 a.m. on Friday. Doctors and public health workers condemned the attack.
Junior public health nurse Shyamala Bai C.K. was attacked by a group of parents led by a middle-aged man around 1 p.m. at Government Lower Primary School, Athippatta, near Valanchery. She was administering MR vaccine to the children when the attack took place.
Edayoor Public Health Centre medical officer Ali Mohammed, who supervised the vaccination, was abused by the parent group. Witnesses said the parents called him names and tried to attack him but were prevented by others.
The parent group leader grabbed Shyamala Bai by the neck and pushed her. They reportedly twisted her harm and broke her mobile phone. She said the attacker carried a rod in his hand. She was admitted to a hospital with injuries.
The nurses on the scene alleged that the parent group had come prepared for the attack. They said it was an unprovoked charging at them. Nurses also alleged that the police reached the scene much later. The attackers left the school before the police came.
The Kerala Government Public Health Nurses and Supervisors Union condemned the attack.
It demanded that stern action be taken against the guilty.
District Collector Amit Meena reiterated his warning against the anti-vaccine lobby. He said strong action would be taken against those who prevented vaccination and spread fear in society.
