MARGAO
Anxious seafarers on Friday headed to the office of the Deputy Collector, Margao, with documents hoping to get the second dose for Covid early.
Sadly, the changes announced in the protocol for vaccination for the seafarers and students going abroad still do not reflect in the portal, with a senior official now saying the changes may fall in place by June 13.
A day after South Goa District Collector, Ruchika Katyal, IAS, appointed all the deputy Collectors in the South Goa district as the competent authorities for according permission within their jurisdiction for administration of the second dose of Covishield.
As per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), a number of seafarers approached the office of the Deputy Collector, Margao, Jyoti Kumari seeking permission.
Sources informed that after the documents were checked and verified by the Deputy Collector, the eligible seamen were informed that they will get a call from the office on the day of vaccination of the second dose.
Sources informed that the Deputy Collector’s office apparently informed the seafarers that they will be intimated of the date of their second dose vaccination since the changes are yet to reflect in the portal to date.
President of Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) Frank Viegas made a fervent plea to the government to ensure that the seafarers get the second dose at the earliest.
“Our seafarers are anxiously waiting to receive the second dose. They have all received call letters and visas. They are only waiting for the authorities to give them the second dose,” he said.
A senior health official, however, pointed out that the state authorities now hope that the changes in the second vaccination dose are expected to get reflected in the portal by June 13. “There is no concrete report that the second vaccination dose will start from June 13, but senior officials were hoping that the changes may finally reflect in the portal by June 13,” the official said.
The SOP on the administration of the second dose of Covishield vaccine prior to prescribed time travel (after 28 days but before 84 days) has been issued for the beneficiaries, including persons intending to undertake international travel for education, joining employment in foreign countries and for India’s contingent to Tokyo Olympics.
