With India facing the worst wave of pandemic yet, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Tuesday, April 6, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting vaccination should be open to all people above the age of 18 years.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections in India remained above 90,000 for the third consecutive day on Tuesday taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to 1,26,86,049, according to the Union Health Ministry. The country had a day ago reported 1,03,558 new cases.
IMA said, “At present, we are vaccinating the population above 45 years. In view of the rapid spread of the second wave of the disease, we suggest that our vaccination strategy needs to be geared up with immediate effect on war foot. We request the following suggestions in the Covid-19 Vaccination Drive. All citizens above 18 years of age shall be permitted to receive Covid-19 vaccination”.
The association also urged the Prime Minister that private sector family clinics should also be included actively in the vaccination drive along with private hospitals, as availability of vaccination with all doctors and family physicians will have a positive impact on the drive.
According to IMA, the vaccination certificate should be made mandatory for entering into public places and receiving products under the public distribution system.
IMA’s letter further adds, “Zero tolerance against the non-compliance of Covid-19 appropriate behaviors, augmentation of infrastructure beds and oxygen availability, moral support and enthusiastic engagements of frontline health workers, ensuring adequate health care protective gears support and strict adherence to the evidence-based treatment protocols are the key factors needed at this moment”.
