‘Over 30,000 health workers yet to receive anti-Covid jabs’

Over 30,000 health workers have yet to be inoculated with the coronavirus vaccine, said Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho on Thursday as she reassured health workers and citizens that despite speculation the anti-Covid jab is safe to receive.

The health minister stressed that healthcare workers who do are refusing the vaccine are at risk of infecting others as well as they may come in contact with asymptomatic Covid-19 patients and could be asymptomatic themselves.

As many as 142,315 health workers are registered to receive the jabs but 33,356 have to yet to do so, she said, adding that the health workers, who refuse the vaccine, will not be permitted to practice as they would be endangering the lives of others.

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There may be some fake news regarding the vaccine and that may be why some healthcare workers are hesitant, said the minister. Dispelling such speculation, she added that she had received the vaccine herself and maintaining that there were no major side effects

Those who are inoculated, may experience minor side effects such as slight fever or lethargy, according to Dr Pechuho. However, she added, this is to be expected from all vaccines and is not a cause for alarm.

Moreover, according to the minister, people aged between 80 to 90 years have also received the anti-Covid jabs and there have been no adverse side effects.

There are around 30 countries across the globe that have not begun coronavirus vaccine drives yet so healthcare workers in Sindh should utilise the opportunity to get the anti-Covid jabs as they are available, she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2021.