MARGAO
The Margao Municipal administration finds itself in a tight spot with the frontline sanitation workers showing hesitancy to take a jab of the COVID vaccine.
In fact, just 10 out of the 311 sanitation workers registered for the COVID vaccination has opted for the vaccine, with the overwhelming majority of the sanitation, including garbage workers dragging their feet to go for the vaccination.
To tide over the situation, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes conducted an orientation camp for the sanitation workers to dispel fears amongst the frontline workers. Hospicio Medical Officer Dr Ravin Rego was roped in by the civic body to spread awareness amongst the workers to clear their doubts about the vaccination.
Dr Rego told the workers there’s no difference between the vaccination workers had received in their childhood and the current exercise, saying that mild fever and body ache are common during the vaccination. “Till date, we have not received any serious adverse effects from the vaccination. There’s nothing to worry about the vaccine,” he said, while the need to motivate the people to take the vaccine.
He informed that till Monday, around 12,958 people have taken the jab of the vaccine, saying the beneficiaries will receive the second dose after four weeks.
While addressing the staff, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said the orientation programme has been organised to dispel the doubts in the minds of the workers about the vaccine.
Conceding that the response of the frontline workers to the COVID vaccination has been very poor, the Chief Officer attributed the situation to the lack of proper awareness amongst the sanitation workers. “I am confident that Margao Municipal workers will take a jab of the vaccine as the doctor had dispelled their doubts and apprehensions over the vaccine,” the Chief Officer said.
With the Margao Municipality employing over 400 employees and workers, questions are being raised in the corridors of the civic body whether the employees will volunteer for the vaccine in phase II.
