IMA flays vax rider for pvt doctors, healthcare staffers

Pune: Private doctors, nurses, and other medical and non-medical staffers below 60 years of age will have to visit government-run vaccination centres to get the third/precaution dose of the Covid vaccines with the requisite document/employment letter as a proof of their profession.
According to the latest directive of the Union health ministry, private hospitals and even those holding Covid vaccination sessions and having adequate vaccine doses in stock are not allowed to offer the third dose to their healthcare staffers on their premises.Private hospitals and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have criticised the government’s move stating that it would inconvenience their doctors/staffers, resulting in wastage of their precious time. It will eventually affect patient-care services at private hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories and clinics, they stressed.
The precaution dose for healthcare and frontline workers, and those above 60 years of age will be rolled out from January 10. Only those with a 39-week gap (nine months) following their second dose would be eligible for it.
Dr J Jayalal, immediate past national president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), said, “This is a sadistic move towards Covid warriors across the country. IMA demands the government should review and revoke the decision and allow the healthcare professionals to take vaccine for free in government facilities and by paying the fees in the private hubs.”
Several private hospitals have unused doses with them. “When the healthcare staffers need the third dose, it is better these vaccine doses are used for them, along with general citizens. As every vaccination is done through CoWIN portal, there will not be an issue,” Dr Jayalal said.
Maharashtra’s chief immunisation officer Dr Sachin Desai said, “The entire Covid vaccination programme is run by the Union government with the help of CoWIN portal. Hence, we have to follow the instructions. The precaution dose for healthcare workers — private as well as public sector — will be offered only at government or municipal corporation-run vaccination centres.”
Another government official, requesting anonymity, said, “When the vaccine was made available only to healthcare workers in the early phase, many people having influences got the shot under the healthcare workers’ category. The government wants to stop such misuse of doses this time.”