Vadodara: The state health department has asked its officials to ensure that all election officials who are likely to be given election duty are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Officials have started the process of identifying persons who had not taken preventive doses and vaccinated them.
The state assembly elections are near and the Election Commission had reviewed the preparations for the elections last month. During this review, the Commission had pointed out that the COVID-19 guidelines prepared by the Health Department of the Central Government would have to be followed during the voting process.
In line with the instructions, the state health department has issued instructions that the eligible officers who are likely to be given election duty should be given free vaccines at the earliest.
Sources said the move is also being seen as an opportunity to ensure that the frontline workers of the government are given a precautionary dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. This is no surprise as vaccination of individuals with the precautionary dose has been slow.
According to the data available till Tuesday evening, the coverage of senior citizens in Vadodara has exceeded the target. Coverage of precautionary doses among individuals in the age group of 18 to 44 years as well as those between 45 and 60 years has been low with 45 per cent and 35 per cent coverage respectively.
Most government employees fall into two age groups with less coverage. Vadodara Municipal Corporation Medical Officer (Health) Dr Devesh Patel said that most of the frontline workers would have taken the precautionary dose. “If there are some left, we will make sure that they get the vaccine as soon as possible,” he said.
Officials have started the process of identifying persons who had not taken preventive doses and vaccinated them.
The state assembly elections are near and the Election Commission had reviewed the preparations for the elections last month. During this review, the Commission had pointed out that the COVID-19 guidelines prepared by the Health Department of the Central Government would have to be followed during the voting process.
In line with the instructions, the state health department has issued instructions that the eligible officers who are likely to be given election duty should be given free vaccines at the earliest.
Sources said the move is also being seen as an opportunity to ensure that the frontline workers of the government are given a precautionary dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. This is no surprise as vaccination of individuals with the precautionary dose has been slow.
According to the data available till Tuesday evening, the coverage of senior citizens in Vadodara has exceeded the target. Coverage of precautionary doses among individuals in the age group of 18 to 44 years as well as those between 45 and 60 years has been low with 45 per cent and 35 per cent coverage respectively.
Most government employees fall into two age groups with less coverage. Vadodara Municipal Corporation Medical Officer (Health) Dr Devesh Patel said that most of the frontline workers would have taken the precautionary dose. “If there are some left, we will make sure that they get the vaccine as soon as possible,” he said.