After Health staff, others to get jabs from tomorrow
Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, January 30
The state Health Department is all geared up to vaccinate frontline workers of other departments from February 1. In this second phase of vaccination, workers from police, local bodies, disaster management, rural development and panchayats and revenue departments will be given Covid shots.
Ironically, only 30 per cent of the targeted frontline workers of the Health Department have been vaccinated so far.
Only 30% success in first phase
- Ironically, only 30 per cent of the targeted frontline workers of the Health Department have been vaccinated so far
- Around 60,000 health workers have been inoculated to date against the target of vaccinating around 1.98 lakh
Dr Rajesh Bhasker, state nodal officer, said around 60,000 frontline health workers had been inoculated to date, even as they had a target of vaccinating around 1.98 lakh of them in the first phase.
When asked about the poor response, Bhasker told The Tribune, “Though doctors have come forward in large numbers, ASHA workers, ANMs, multipurpose health workers have shied away.”
On asking what the reasons were, Bhasker said, “Some health workers opposed the drive and set conditions that their long-pending demands be fulfilled first — which, I think, is unjust. Instead of putting conditions, they should realise that we are giving vaccines for their benefit only.”
He said health workers still might get a chance to get vaccinated until February 12. He said thereafter, they won’t get a chance. “Earlier, there were two chances for health workers. Now, we will give just one chance. If they don’t utilise the opportunity, they will not get the jabs anytime soon.”
When asked about any non-designated beneficiary getting the vaccination, Bhasker said the entire process of vaccination was very robust and there was no chance of any anomaly.
