KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) representatives on Friday at a press conference organised at PMA House demanded that the federal government immediately resume registration for Covid-19 vaccination of health workers below 60 years of age.
“The registration for Covid-19 vaccination has been stopped over a week ago without any intimation. Both healthcare workers’ portal 1166 and website for registration are currently inactive,” Dr Qaiser Sajjad representing the PMA said, regretting that the government’s questionable decision had come at a time when the number of coronavirus cases and mortalities were on the rise.
Health workers warned against refusing to get vaccinated
“This short-sighted decision may have far-reaching implications as the UK variant prevalent in parts of the country, particularly in Punjab, has high transmissibility and lethality and the positivity rate has climbed above 10 per cent.”
221 health professionals died
According to the PMA data, coronavirus has so far claimed the lives of 221 health professionals across the country, including 190 doctors.
“The government must ensure implementation of SOPs and show no relaxation in any SOPs unless 70 to 75 per cent of the population is vaccinated across the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho in a message has warned that the department will sack health workers refusing to get vaccinated.
“Non-vaccinated healthcare workers pose grave risk to others and they will not be allowed to practice,” she said.
No serious side-effects of vaccine
According to the official data, out of the 142,315 healthcare workers registered so far for Covid-19 vaccination, 108,959 have received the vaccine jab while 33,356 health professionals haven’t registered.
“There may be some disinformation regarding the vaccine which is why some healthcare workers might haven’t opted for vaccination. But, they should know that the vaccine hasn’t caused any serious side-effects in any recipient including those in their 80s and 90s,” she said.
Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2021