Nagaland government’s order on staff shouldn’t be taken as threat — Health official

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 27 (EMN): Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare (H&FW), Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao on Tuesday said that the order issued by the chief secretary to the staff of Nagaland Civil Secretariat and Directorates in connection with vaccination was a decision taken at the governmental-level in the interest of the public and “it should not be taken as a threat”.

He said during an interaction with journalists that ‘false information might have been imparted to the people from different medium or to the extent of frontline workers not co-operating enough, so as to safeguard the population and for that reason alone, the order was issued’.

He maintained that there was a court order stating that ‘it was up to the individuals to decide’ (whether to get vaccinated or not). However, he pointed out that the department had received a suo motu from the court asking the department why it had not vaccinated the frontline health workers.

In this regard, the department was also stated to have advised the frontline workers to get vaccinated or to get the test done every 15 days before reporting for duty in order not to spread the disease or also not to be infected by others.

He added that the department had also issued a circular to all the medical workers in the districts.

The principal director maintained that ‘such strict advisories should come up’ in the pandemic situation.

Reacting to the recent rally held by a group of people alleging that the government order was a violation of human rights, he said, “Why then should the Court order the department to reply in three days’ time – if you don’t vaccinate your healthcare workers then give us the explanation? So we are left with no option but to give advice to all the health workers that– either you get yourself vaccinated or you will have to test yourself every 15 days when you come for duty or go on leave or to the extent of leave without pay.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Khimiao also informed that till date, there has been no report of any person who has died of Covid-19 complications in the state after taking the vaccine.

He maintained that the Government of India was taking every possible step for eligible individuals to get the vaccine.

He reiterated that the efficacy of the Sputnik-V vaccine was 92% and Covishield was 60-70%; adding that Sputnik-V was thought to be ‘superior’ while researches were going on and ‘nobody can know exactly what it is’.

Further, he said that with regard to Sputnik-V that is available in the state with payment in Dimapur and Kohima, the immune response can last for about two years while over a period of time, ‘the immune response on Covishield will be known soon despite lack of clarity till date’.

The principal director also stated that the response of people taking the vaccine was ‘picking up’ although initially it had faced a lot of problems with false information and false preaching in villages.

He however stated that ‘major bulk’ of the population was coming forward to take the vaccine with a little over 7 lakh vaccinated with both doses.

He also reiterated that testing of Covid-19 is free in the state except for commercialised areas like Dimapur and Kohima where ‘influx and outgoing are rampant’.

Will third wave come to state?

The principal director stated that the third wave may not take place in the state if the second wave is tackled well through vaccination.

Further, he informed that the sensitisation drive was a continuous process and the department was doing its best to cater to the needs of the people.

He maintained that there was a directive from the government of India stating that if there is 5% and below positivity rate, the state can go for unlocking; and depending on the circumstances such as positivity rate, the death rate and vaccination process, the department could give its advice to the state government for lifting the lockdown.

He said that Nagaland is doing fairly well with regard to Covid-19 management but added that ‘to be called successful, nowhere in the country can say we have done perfectly well and we are through with this problem and it is here to stay with us for sometime’.

He however exuded hope that in the coming days, with more vaccination that is going side by side, ‘we will be able to do better’.