Section of health workers refuse to receive Covid jab

By Nathasha Nethmini

Sources from the Health sources claim that some health workers are refusing to take the Astrazeneca or Covishield vaccine provided by the Indian government to control Covid 19.

A senior official of the Ministry of Health said in response to a query made by us that the vaccine will not be given by force to anyone who does not wish to be vaccinated.

He added that for the first time, the vaccine will be given to health staff working in six major hospitals, but in the first round it will only be given to those who work directly with patients with Covid infection.

The vaccination will begin tomorrow (29) at the National Hospital and five locations are being set up at the hospital, a senior spokesman said.

He said emergency treatment units would be set up near the vaccination sites and medical teams would be deployed to provide the necessary treatment as soon as possible if an allergy develops after the vaccine is given.

The spokesman said that arrangements had been made to obtain the consent of the person in writing before administering the vaccine.