Hesitancy blamed for lesser vaccination of health workers

As per data, only 66 percent of the country's healthcare workers including doctors have been vaccinated against Covid-19. Dr RV Ashokan, former secretary-general of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) pointed out that vaccine hesitancy due to lack of trust in its efficacy could be the major reason behind such a poor percentage.

New Delhi:WhileIndia's inoculation exercise against Covid-19 continues, data shows that only 66 percent of the country's healthcare workers including doctors have been vaccinated.

“Vaccine hesitancy because of the doubts about its efficacy could be a major reason behind such a poor percentage,” said Dr RV Ashokan, former secretary-general of Indian Medical Association (IMA) to ETV Bharat.

The government has identified doctors, nurses, interns, trained practitioners, lab technicians, Ayush professionals, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, and final year medical students as health care workers.

In fact, healthcare workers were the topmost priority for the Central government as far as vaccination is concerned. The logic behind this is that the healthcare workers remain on the field and keep working closely with Covid positive patients.

As per government data, only 1.64 crore health care workers have been vaccinated till now with only 0.67 crore taking the second dose against a total number of 0.97 crore healthcare workers who received the first jab.

On the contrary, 2.29 crore frontline workers (defence personnel) got the vaccine out of which 0.83 crore received the second dose and 1.46 crore got the first dose.

“Certainly, vaccine hesitancy, lack of trust in the vaccine are the two major reasons that are hampering the vaccination process of health care workers,” said Dr Ashokan.

He further said that the process of approval of vaccines as well as lack of access among a small percentage are the other factors for such a lukewarm response.

The government's target to inoculate three crore health care and frontline workers continues to lag far behind in comparison to other groups. 14.07 crore (2.74 crore second dose and 11.33 crore got the first dose) people above the age group of 45 have got the vaccine.

Another senior health expert Dr Sunila Garg said that the healthcare workers especially the doctors become hesitant over vaccine efficacy.

“At the initial stage many of the healthcare workers were hesitant to take vaccines because of lack of efficacy data, though the vaccine's efficacy is proven now,” said Dr Garg.

“For health care workers, the shortage of vaccines is not an issue because they are on the priority list. However, it’s only hesitancy that has posed as a stumbling block,” added Dr Garg.