Punjab not to foot treatment bill of health workers who fail to take Covid jab

CHANDIGARH: Unhappy with health workers showing little interest in taking Covid vaccine, despite repeated pleas and extension of the last date, the Punjab government on Sunday announced that it will not pay for the treatment of medical professionals who will contract coronavirus. Not only that, they will also not be allowed to avail quarantine/isolation leave.
Punjab is among the worst-performing states with below 40% coverage against the national average of 60%.
Pointing out the rise in number of Covid-19 cases in recent days, Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu stated that there were only 2,000 active cases about three weeks back. The number of active cases has crossed the 3,000 mark. He further said that Punjab is among six states in the country where cases are rising.
Urging the health care workers, Sidhu said that they should shun hesitancy and come forward to get vaccinated at the earliest for the sake of their safety.
Expressing concern over the low rate of vaccination among health care workers and frontline workers, Sidhu further said that out of 2.06 lakh registered health care workers and 1.82 lakh front line workers only 79718 health workers and 42,678 frontline workers have received their first dose. He informed that the last date of the availing first dose of vaccination for health workers has been extended from February 19 to February 25.
"The rising cases highlight the need for following Covid appropriate behaviour such as maintaining social distancing hand hygiene and wearing mask, he said.
98 vaccinated on Sunday
Only 98 health workers and frontline workers were immunised in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive. So far, 122,396 members of the two priority groups have received their first dose.