MARGAO
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat has demanded that the Health Ministry should clarify over the views expressed by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation that those having laboratory test proven SARS-CoV-2 illness should defer Covid Vaccine for six months after recovery.
“This means that it is now necessary to do Covid test before taking vaccine. Health Ministry must clarify on this immediately,” Kamat demanded.
He added: “Separately, the advisory group on the Covid-19 vaccines has also recommended increasing the gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks. Currently, the interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks”.
He said that NTAGI has also suggested that pregnant women may be offered the choice to take any Covid-19 vaccine and that lactating women can be inoculated any time after delivery.
“Although, the recommendations of the NTAGI will be sent to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration , it is important that decisions are taken fast as we are already running out of time in the second wave of pandemic”, he said.
“As per the recommendation of NTAGI, Government will have to ramp up the testing facilities everywhere. Covid tests only will enable whether a person who wants to take vaccine can go for it immediately or will have to wait for six months after recovery. There needs to be more clarity on exact recovery period timeline”, Kamat said.
He once again urged the Government to come out with an action plan on testing as well as vaccination. The confusion created by the government with inconsistent timelines has resulted in developing fear in the minds of the people about testing as well as vaccination. Government must clear all the doubts by issuing proper clarifications in more simplified manner, he added.
The opposition leader said the Goa government must constitute a task force to handle Covid management. “We need to have experts who can monitor testing as well as vaccination effectively. I have already urged the government to setup testing and vaccination facilities as every Panchayat and Municipal level which will reduce the pressure on district hospitals as well as GMC”, he added.
