Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 22: Tamil Nadu is conducting India's first dengue vaccine study in Tenkasi district under the supervision of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Health Minister KG Arunraj said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a workshop on child development, Arunraj said the vaccine is currently included in Brazil's immunisation schedule and is being evaluated for its effectiveness under Indian conditions.
He said the vaccine currently offers 80 to 90 per cent protection against severe outcomes and hospitalisation, adding that its effectiveness was being assessed in the Indian population.
The minister said the current dengue situation was under control but warned that the next two to three months, particularly the rainy season, could pose a greater challenge. He urged the public to prevent water stagnation around homes and avoid self-medication.
“If there is a fever case, they should immediately come to the hospital and should not try home medicines or home remedies,” he said.
Arunraj also confirmed that Vandalur Zoo had been closed to visitors as a precaution after a case of avian flu was detected. Animal handlers were being tested, he added.
On monsoon preparedness, the minister said roads were cleared for traffic within hours despite an unexpected downpour of more than 36 cm in three hours a few days earlier. He attributed the response to review meetings chaired by the chief minister.
Addressing a workshop on child development and artificial intelligence (AI), Arunraj urged the media to change how it reported on children with developmental delays. He called for greater attention to early intervention and the dignity of children, rather than portraying them through pity or as sources of inspiration.
He also urged journalists to hold the government accountable for tangible outcomes, including access to therapy and the distance families must travel to obtain services, instead of focusing only on the number of screening camps conducted.
Stressing the importance of early childhood development, Arunraj said exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months was essential for brain development. He also highlighted the importance of emotional support and acceptance from parents.
“Unconditional positive regard is the most important vitamin and mineral a parent can give to the child,” he said.
On AI and journalism, the minister said the technology could help translate datasets, including those from the National Family Health Survey, into Tamil charts and improve media accessibility through captions. However, he cautioned journalists against using AI-generated images of children to illustrate stories about disabilities.
He said AI-generated medical suggestions should be treated as hypotheses for paediatricians rather than established facts and urged reporters to verify information against official sources, stressing that a machine's confidence was not evidence.
Arunraj also called on journalists to disclose their use of AI, adding that technology could not replace the human empathy needed to recognise a child in distress.