Covishield Row: Internet Spots PM Modi's Photo 'Missing' From Vaccine Certificates, Health Ministry Responds

PM Modi's photo reportedly disappeared from the vaccine certificates amid a row involving AstraZeneca's admission in the UK High Court that its vaccines can have rare side-effects

The copy of the vaccine certificate without PM Modi's photo shared by a social media user. ( Image Source :X/@sandeep_PT )

Amid the row over rare side effects of the Covishield vaccine, social media users pointed out that the photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Covid-19 certificates has disappeared. The certificates, which earlier carried a photo of the PM along with his quote "Together, India will defeat COVID-19" now only bear the phrase attributed to Modi. 

A row erupted over the Covishield vaccine this week after pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca made the admission in the UK High Court that its Covid vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS," referring to Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, a condition characterised by blood clots and low blood platelet count.

"Modi ji no more visible on Covid Vaccine certificates," said a user on social media platform X, posting a copy of his vaccine certificate. 

"Just downloaded to check - yes, his pic is gone," he said. 

Modi ji no more visible on Covid Vaccine certificates

Just downloaded to check - yes, his pic is gone 😂#Covishield #vaccineSideEffects #Nomorepicture #CovidVaccines pic.twitter.com/nvvnI9ZqvC

— Sandeep Manudhane (@sandeep_PT) May 1, 2024

Another social media user, who identified himself as a Congress functionary also said that only the QR code was visible while the PM's photo has gone. 

"Yes, I just checked and PM Modi’s photo has disappeared and there is only a QR code instead of his photo," he said. 

Hi @BhavikaKapoor5 ,

Yes, I just checked and PM Modi’s photo has disappeared and there is only QR code instead of his photo.

Guys, please check your covid vaccination certificate. #LokSabhaElections2024 #covidshield https://t.co/tyhQ12oIhI

— Irfan Ali (@TweetOfIrfan) May 1, 2024

Health Ministry Responds 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said Modi's picture was removed from the vaccine certificates due to the Model Code of Conduct being in place in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, according to a report in ThePrint. 

This is also not the first time when the Prime Minister's photo has been removed from the vaccination certificates. 

In 2022, during assembly elections in five states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa — Modi's photo was first removed from the certificates on the direction of the Election Commission of India.

The ECI had in January this year issued clear instructions about the display of the photographs of "national leaders and prominent personalities" on the government offices or premises, etc, during the time the MCC is in force.

"The photographs and images of the political functionaries, who deep influence on the minds of electors and many of whom are still active in public life and may even be contesting the current general elections, should not be displayed in the government buildings and premises as that would have the effect of disturbing the level playing field vis-a-vis the political functionaries of other parties and candidates," ECI said in its order.

It added: "While the photographs of Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Ministers and other political functionaries should not be displayed, this instruction, however, is not applicable with regard to the images of national leaders, poets, and prominent historical personalities of the past, and the President of India and the Governors. In case of any doubt in this regard regarding removal of any photograph or images, the issue may be referred to the Chief Electoral Officer of the State/Union Territory concerned before taking action in the matter."