Following the High Court order, the State Health and Family Welfare department has directed all the chief medical officers/medical superintendents of all districts to take necessary steps to ensure fast-track vaccination of the shopkeepers and vegetables vendors on priority.
In an order, H&FW principal director, Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao stated that shopkeepers and vegetable vendors being a vulnerable section of the society were not only at risk of contracting COVID-19, but were also potential spreaders of the virus due to the nature of their profession. PD said that priority for COVID-19 vaccination must be given to those particular sections of the community.
H&FW directs health workers: The department has also informed all the health workers in both public and private hospitals, who have not been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine, to produce COVID-19 negative test certificate by getting tested every 15 days as and when they report for duties to ensure the safety of patients, co-workers and community.
In an order, H&FW principal director, Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao directed the chief medical officers/medical superintendents of all districts to ensure compliance of the order by all health workers. PD has further asked the district task force to also ensure that the private hospitals also follow the same directions.