MARGAO
Four days to go for the vaccination of seafarers and a pertinent question is doing the rounds in certain quarters “ whether sailors from outside the state can also avail of the anti-Covid vaccine when the programme is being initiated by the state government for the benefit of local seafarers.
This question has come to the fore as local seamen and associations have started receiving queries from their counterparts from neighbouring states whether they too can receive the jab in Goa during the exercise scheduled between June 7 and 15.
For, the authorities have insisted on certain documents such as the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), Seafarer Identity Document (SID), besides certificate from the Captain of Ports or any other document, including Aadhaar Card, photo ID proof.
The question that has come to the fore is whether seafarer from any other state can be denied the vaccination if he or she produced any of these documents before the centers designated for the vaccination.
When The Goan raised this question with the Director of Health Services, Dr Jose D’Sa to shed light if seafarers from outside the state will be eligible for the COVID jab, he said the vaccination is being chalked out by the state government, while suggesting that more information be obtained from the state Immunization officer.
Interestingly, State Immunization Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said the ongoing vaccination exercise cannot discriminate between a seafarer from the state and outside. “It is a fact that the special vaccination exercise is being undertaken by the state government for the benefit of the local populace. But, we cannot discriminate between locals and outside. One thing, however, is clear that no local will be denied of the benefits of the vaccination”, he said.
Dr Borkar pointed out that he would convey the concerns raised by the local seafarers to the Health Ministry for appropriate action.
No seafarer from the state should
be denied benefit: GSAI president
MARGAO: Goan Seafarers Association of India (GSAI) President Frank Viegas pointed out that the since the vaccination drive has been rolled out by the state government, local seafarers ought to be given the preference. He also appealed to the seafarers to take maximum advantage of the vaccination drive and has requested those who have no CDC and SID to approach the GSAI office, promising to work out a solution with the help of the authorities.
“We have raised the question of seafarers from outside the state availing the benefits in Goa because we have been receiving inquiries from many parts, including Khanapur, Karnataka and even Delhi. We only want to say that no seafarer from the state should be denied the benefit if no one can be discriminated against during the drive”, Frank said.
