After tepid response, Punjab to start inoculating pvt sector health workers
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: Not getting enthusiastic response from government sector health workers for the anti-Covid vaccine, the Punjab government has decided to vaccinate workers of private clinics and hospitals from Tuesday.
The health department, as per information, was forced to change the plan of including health workers working in private hospitals in the vaccination drive earlier due to slow response from the government sector.
“Apprehension about the vaccine among health workers is the reason behind the lukewarm response. They feel senior doctors should first take the vaccine jab first. That’s why, we have now asked our senior doctors and SMOs to take the dose in coming days,” said Punjab’s nodal officer for Covid-19 Dr Rajesh Bhaskar.
More response in private hospitals
The health officials claim that contrary to the government sector, response for the vaccination appears more in private hospitals.
“Private hospital managements are calling us repeatedly to vaccinate their employees first. That’s why from Tuesday, health workers working in private establishments would be included in the beneficiary allocation so that the national portal also picks them and send them messages for the vaccination on Tuesday morning,” said the nodal officer.
Notably, state health department has already enrolled health workers of the government and private hospitals for the vaccination by sending their data to the national portal. The national portal randomly selects the data of the receivers for the particular day in the morning and sends them the text messages. Same information is also provided to the application available with the particular vaccinators.
1992 workers vaccinated on Day 2
Meanwhile, a total of 1,992 health workers were inoculated with anti-Covid vaccine in Punjab on Monday, the second day of the vaccination drive in the state, but the state health department is still struggling to achieve its target of vaccinating 5,900 beneficiaries per day.
Health department says it’s a jump of 50% as compared the first day when only 1,327 health workers had shown up at 59 session sites in Punjab.
“On Monday, 1,992 health workers in Punjab were inoculated with doses of Covishield vaccine at 59 session sites. Even though we are short of the target, but health workers are now coming forward to take vaccine shots. This is because no case of adverse effect of immunisation has been reported in Punjab so far and health workers are now showing their trust on the vaccine. Also, some beneficiaries, who missed out on their turn on Saturday, voluntarily showed up at the vaccine sites on Monday, which is a positive sign,” said Dr Bhaskar.
He added: “On Tuesday, the state health department will hold a meeting to decide on making more session sites across the state. In Punjab, vaccine will be administered for four days a week—Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.”