Panaji: Journalists working in Goa have been included in the group of frontline workers and will be vaccinated against it. COVID-19 on priority, Prime Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s office said the Council of Ministers decided to recognize accredited journalists and other media personnel as certified by DIP or any officer authorized to declare him / her as ‘frontline workers’.
Those added to the list of frontline workers include government personnel as certified by their respective heads of department or any officer authorized by them to certify; Central civil servants as certified by their respective heads of department or any officer authorized by them to certify; all employees of autonomous / semi-government / PSUs of the center or state government as certified by their respective heads of department or any officer authorized by them to certify.
In addition, employees of banking institutions and workers of homes for children / disabled / mentally handicapped / citizens / poor / women / widows, etc., as certified by director, WCD or director, social welfare or any officer authorized by them to declare , also given COVID-19 vaccine on priority.
The list also includes employees / workers engaged in the provision of telecommunications and internet services, as certified by the director, IT or any officer authorized by him / her to certify.
“The people who work in the above sectors contribute to the fight against COVID-19 daily by being at the forefront and therefore running the risk of contracting the disease in order to further their duties, ”the government said. Under the central government scheme, those over the age of 45 are frontline workers and COVID-19 warriors are eligible to take the vaccine for free.
The Goa government has not yet vaccinated people in the 18 to 44 age group.
A state government spokesman said government employees would be considered frontline workers.
Source: Telangana Today