Vaccination certificate a must for almost everything

Whether it's a person going for a doctor's appointment to the hospital, a job interview, dining out or intercity travel, chances are that their Covid-19 vaccination certificates will be checked.

This is according to the latest decision of the Sindh government.

The health department has directed all district officials, medical superintendents, hospital heads and officials of various departments to ensure Covid-19 vaccination certificates.

Hospital staff have been directed to entertain only those patients with Covid-19 vaccination certificates. "No patients without vaccine certificates will be entertained," said Provincial Director General Health Dr Irshad Memon.

According to the officials, only those patients who show certificates will be allowed treatment and surgeries. "Patients in emergency wards are exempted," clarified the health department's spokesperson Atif Vighio.

He said that the decision was taken in the last meeting of the NCOC.

The health authorities have also asked other departments to ensure all the candidates appearing in tests for any job show the certificate.

The health department has also directed district officials not to allow anyone in restaurants and marriage halls without certificates.

Jabs must for jobs

It has also been decided that those candidates who will appear in the tests for teachers in August will have to show their certificates. "Showing Covid-19 vaccination certificate is mandatory for every candidate," Vighio said. Roughly, 500,000 jobless persons have applied for 46,500 vacancies of primary and junior school teachers.

In a meeting on Friday chaired by Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani, it was decided that the tests will be conducted in an open space in all six divisional headquarters.

The health officials said that it was the best way to vaccinate all half a million candidates appearing in the tests. "This is the way to ensure vaccination of more and more people," Vighio briefed, sharing the details of the decision.

Different hospitals in the city also issued notices available, with The Express Tribune, directing the staff that all eligible patients and their attendants visiting the OPDs and different departments of the hospitals should be vaccinated. It has also been mentioned in the orders that the doctors should motivate and counsel the patients to go for vaccinations.

In a separate statement issued from the provincial transport minister, the passengers travelling through public transport will have to show the certificates.

"The citizens and transporters are requested to get vaccinated," transport minister Awais Qadar Shah said. The drivers and conductors have also been directed to keep their vaccination cards with them.

Those passengers travelling to Sindh from other parts of the country will also have to show Covid-19 vaccination certificates. The staff of the transport department has been directed to strictly monitor the situation.

Health officials claim that more and more citizens will rush to the vaccination centers following the new orders of the government.

Meanwhile, the officials of the South district administration during checking of Covid-19 vaccination certificates sealed 14 premises including shops and restaurants. They also issued Rs22,000 worth of fines for not implementing the vaccination condition and other coronavirus SOPs. In the shopping hub of Saddar, people were penalised for not wearing face masks.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2021.