Goa: Vaccination drive starts for Nepalese citizens

Panaji: The Directorate of Health Services began vaccination of Nepalese residents and those with no photo ID on Saturday, pushing 750 people in Panaji and at least 250 in Siolim to get their first dose against Covid-19 at the end of the day.
“The drive will continue in the Panaji on Sunday when vaccination of 2,000 people who report on vaccination locations in the city cannot be resolved,” said Dr.
Rajendra Borkar, a district immunization officer to Ti.
Borkar said they had taken vaccination of Nepalese citizens after the central government issued circular three days ago and the district government was asked to identify potential beneficiaries and notify them about vaccination programs.
Drive will also be held in South Goa.
Those who have a photo identity, he said, vaccinated by using telephone numbers and photo identity from facilitation officers from the district office.
Other people who are vaccinated without having proof of photo identity are beggars and nomads.
They have not received directions to vaccinate foreign nationals – even those who have aadhaar cards – or OCI card holders who are currently in Goa.
He said even though foreigners held aadhaar cards could report vaccination, their passports would not be accepted on the portal.
“They want their passport to connect, but it cannot be done because they and digits we will not count.
I have made officers aware of these difficulties,” he said.
Vaccination of strangers with aadhaar cards is also inappropriate for the guidelines, he said.
An expert committee on Friday suggested that foreign nationals in the state and those over 18 years old were given the opportunity to be investigated, officers said they would not be able to do it unless there was clear instruction from the government.
“Even though the expert committee recommends that foreigners in Goa must be vaccinated, there needs to be written approval from the government to occur,” he added.