MARGAO
Vaccination of frontline workers at the Margao Urban Health Centre was kept on hold on Sunday as rival politicians slogged over the issue, with the health authorities watching the unfolding situation helplessly.
On Sunday morning, Margao Urban Health Centre put up a notice at its entrance informing of the decision to keep the vaccination of the frontline workers on hold till further orders, but resumed the vax drive in the evening.
While more than 50-100 frontline workers had to return home disappointed on Sunday morning after vaccination was kept on hold, two frontline workers took the jabs in the evening session, with officials saying the drive will resume in a big way from Monday.
The Goan understands that vaccination was kept on hold by the Urban Health Officer Dr Anju Kharangate after receiving instructions late Saturday evening following the uproar created by Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai and his group of councillors objecting to vaccination of frontline workers at the centre.
Sources in the know informed The Goan on Sunday evening that the Urban Health Officer reportedly received instructions from the Director of Health Services, Dr Jose D’Sa, to resume the vaccination with immediate effect.
While no frontline workers were seen to take the jab on Sunday afternoon, two of them, who turned up later in the evening, were given the vaccine.
Given the latest instructions from the Health Director, the Margao health officials on Sunday evening left instructions to the security personnel to allow the frontline workers to stand in the queue for the Covid jab.
Sources informed the changing stance of the health authorities over the vaccination of the frontline workers came in the last two days after the Goa Forward Chief vehemently objected to the move on grounds locals would be denied jabs.
BJP leader and former Fatorda MLA Damu Naik had hotly contested Sardesai’s claims saying the frontline workers too were eligible for the jabs, saying they were all staying in Fatorda.
The game of one-upmanship only intensified on Sunday when Goa Forward Fatorda block president Peter Fernandes called a media briefing to point out that the health officials have kept the vaccination for the frontline workers on hold.
Sources in the know informed that Damu Naik reportedly had discussions with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over the phone before the Health Director issued instructions to the Margao Urban Health Centre to resume the vaccination.
