Workers put demands before jabs

27% health workers took the shot; majority stayed away saying that govt should first meet their demands pending for long

CHANDIGARH: Amid Punjab figuring among the Union health and family welfare ministry’s list of 11 states and Union Territories where the Covid-19 vaccination was still less than 40% of the target, calls given by the health care workers to boycott the nationwide drive till government meets their demands have emerged as the main reason behind the poor show in the state.

As per a senior health department functionary, initially, when the vaccination began, there was distrust because of rumours which hindered the drive. “But, now, various employee unions have taken stand that they will continue to boycott the vaccination drive till the time government fulfils their various demands,” said the official.

Director, health and family welfare, Dr GB Singh, said the department even conducted a meeting with the union leaders last week to convince them that they shouldn’t link the vaccination with the government’s stand on their demands.

“We tried to convince them that the vaccination was for their safety and for their family members. Now, in past couple of days, the number of health care workers who turned up for vaccination has increased,” Singh said.

The unions, however, are still adamant that they will not take vaccine shots till the time their demands are met.

State president of accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers association Kirandeep Panjola said the union is united on the stand. “We won’t take jabs till the time government meets our demand of paying us on Haryana pattern,” she said.

“The government is telling us that the vaccination was for our safety. But we are not sure on that because many of our colleagues faced serious complications after receiving the shots. Now, the government is pressuring us to get vaccinated. But we won’t budge till our demands are met,” said Panjola.

Because of slow response, the Punjab government has now extended the last date for administering vaccination for health care workers from February 12 to February 19.

Even the health department’s efforts to rope in senior officials for taking the jab have failed to yield the desired results.

STATE GOVT HAS NOW EXTENDED THE VACCINATION LAST DATE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS FROM FEBRUARY 12 TO FEBRUARY 19

Response in police dept far better

In the Punjab Police, response for the vaccination is better as till date, 11,130 cops have already been vaccinated ever since DGP Punjab Dinkar Gupta and additional chief secretary (home) Anurag Aggarwal launched the drive by taking the jab first.