SHILLONG, Jan 2: Meghalaya-based medical experts have given the thumbs up to the decision of the state government to inoculate 25,000 health workers in the first phase as soon as the state gets its mitts on the COVID- 19 vaccine.
“The State Government has really hit the nail on the head. It is the health workers who are exposed to a lot of risk, who have been deemed potential spreaders and have been subjected to a lot of problems earlier,” said NEIGRIHMS Director, P Bhattacharya, on Saturday. Terming the decision “just”, Bhattacharya said, “The health workers always have a greater
chance of getting infected despite taking the precautions”.
Echoing similar sentiments, Medical Officer of Ganesh Das MCH Hospital, B Basaiawmoit, said, “This is a very good step. There were many cases in the last ten months and the health workers had worked really hard, putting themselves to the risk”.
She maintained that the vaccine will keep the health workers from the harm’s way and will boost their morale in going all out in the battle against COVID-19.
The Meghalaya Government has identified around 25,000 health workers in the state for vaccination in the first phase.
The first list of health workers for the vaccination includes ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the field as well as the sanitary workers managing COVID-19 hospitals.
The government also plans to vaccinate private practitioners in the first phase while police personnel of the state will be given the shots during the second phase of vaccination.
The government has also constituted the state task force with the Health Commissioner and Secretary as the chairperson to ensure coordination among all line departments, mobilisation of resources and follow-up of related activities in the state.