Cuttack: A day after cautioning healthcare and Anganwadi workers against skipping Covid-19 vaccination with a 'no vaccine, no salary' warning, the Cuttack district administration took an U-turn on Saturday and clarified its stance over the official letter saying that there was no intension of cutting the salaries of the violators.
Cuttack Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani, who received the Covid-19 vaccine shot today as a frontline worker, said the letter was aimed at urging recipients to prevent wastage of the vaccines.
“We do not have intension of taking such step. However, we urge the healthcare and anganwadi workers to take vaccines voluntarily and in time so that vaccine wastage can be minimised," Chayani told reporters after taking the vaccine jab.
He further said many healthcare and anganwadi workers are buying time leading to wastage of vaccines as the lifespan of a Covid vials is just four hours. The vaccine vials need to be used within four hours once opened and 10 people should take them within that period, he said.
“As soon as the healthcare and anganwadi workers complete the vaccination as per their turns, we can prevent wastage of vaccine as well as loss of money. There is need for creation of awareness among people on it. I feel proud after taking the shot today,” Chayani added.
Yesterday, Chayani had directed authorities of the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Superintendent of Sishu Bhawan and CMC Commissioner to sensitize absentee health workers to come forward and get the vaccine shot.
“You may instruct the persons registered under different establishments under your jurisdiction to take Covid-19 vaccine positively by 10th of February 2021, failing which their salary/remuneration/stipend for the month will not be drawn,” Chayani had warned through a letter.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)