Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has pushed a big boost for Covid vaccination, but more than half of the 9.7 lakh frontline workers have not taken both doses.
Even worse, almost 1.7 lakh or 18% of these workers, which include police, income officials and local body staff, have not taken a single dose of covid vaccine.
The vaccination drive was opened for frontline workers in February 2021, but data from the immunization wing under the Directorate of Public Health showed only 4.4 lakh had taken two doses.
Among the health care providers – doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other hospital staff – only 64% have taken two doses even though 97% of them have taken the first dose.
Of the 5.6 lakh people in this category, 3.6 lakh is a double vaccination.
“We encourage everyone to take vaccines.
They are available in all government and PHC hospitals,” said Public Health Director Dr.
Selva Vinayagam.
“Last week, the center told the Supreme Court that it had not made mandatory vaccination.
Following central guidelines, we have not made mandatory vaccination,” he said .selva Vinayagam said, “But we have said that to enter the workplace, managers must make sure family staff Which meets a double vaccinated requirement.
To enter public spaces such as malls, double vaccination is a must.
“In addition to health care workers and front lines, almost half of the number of people over 60 years do not multiply, increase the risk of hospitalization and death.
Over the past two weeks, more than 80% of deaths have occurred among people over the age of 60 years.
Overall in the state, almost 89% of people over 15 years have taken a dose and 63% have taken both doses.
Some experts throughout the country have warned that slow vaccination rates will increase public health risk by providing viruses opportunities to transmit and mutate quickly.
“Vaccination must be done at the war footing at least now.
The delay will increase the risk of hospitalization and death,” Virologically said Vellore-based Dr.
T Jacob John.
The medical expert panel, which met Minister M K Stalin on Thursday to discuss the prevention and management of Covid-19 also requested the State Health Department to offer a booster dose as early as possible for health care providers, frontline workers, and senior citizens.
Law experts say the center has submitted a submission before the APEX court, free countries to make their own mandate.
“Health is the subject of the country.
To ensure the safety of its citizens, there is no harm in making mandatory vaccination.
The state must strictly enforce its decision not to allow people without a double vaccine in each public or workspace,” said the retired high court judge N Kirubukan.