Why is Indian PM Modi's photo missing from Covid vaccine certificates? Centre responds

Several Indians on the social media platform X pointed out in recent days that 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's damming admission on vaccine

The development came even as pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca recently admitted that its vaccine against coronavirus, Covishield, can cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a rare condition which leads to the formation of blood clots and lowered platelet count.

Also read | AstraZeneca Covid vaccine: Court case, rare side effects, admission of guilt, and more. All you need to know

Covishield was manufactured by 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 of Modi's photo from vaccination certificates was spurred by AstraZeneca's damming admission.

Centre responds on removal of Modi's photo

So why was Modi's photograph removed? 

Speaking to The Print website, officials from the central health ministry said the photograph was removed due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country. 

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The Print report said this was not the first time that Modi's photo was removed from vaccination certificates.

In 2022, his photo was removed from 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)