Vaccination of frontline workers will reduce societal, economic impact by reducing COVID-19 mortalities: Health Ministry

COVID-19 vaccine voluntary, FAQs released by health ministry address concerns on approval process, safety and other issues from both general public as well as healthcare and frontline workers

Acting quickly to tackle vaccine hesitancy, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has clarified that while vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary, it is advisable to receive the complete schedule of COVID-19 vaccine for protecting one-self against this disease and also to limit the spread of this disease to the close contacts including family members, friends, relatives and co-workers.

This was part of a list of Frequently Asked Questions on the COVID-19 vaccine uploaded by the Health Ministry on December 17, in the first section targeted at the general public.

To the query, ‘Will the vaccine be safe as it is being tested and introduced in a short span of time?’ the reply is that ‘ Vaccines will be introduced in the country only after the regulatory bodies clear it based on its safety and efficacy.’

Addressing the query if COVID-19 recovered individuals to take the vaccine, the MoH&FW again replied in the affirmative, as ‘it is advisable to receive complete schedule of COVID vaccine irrespective of past history of infection with COVID-19. This will help in developing a strong immune response against the disease.’

Other replies stress that the COVID 19 vaccine introduced in India will be as effective as any vaccine developed by other countries as various phases of vaccine trials are undertaken to ensure its safety and efficacy.

Another FAQ underlines that even though the vaccines are being tested and introduced in a short span of time, they will be introduced in the country only after the regulatory bodies clear it based on its safety and efficacy.

Addressing healthcare and frontline workers

There have been reports of increasing wariness on the part of healthcare workers and some of these issues are addressed in a separate section addressing healthcare providers / frontline workers.

To the first query: Why am I being chosen for COVID 19 vaccine, the reply is ‘Government of India has prioritised the most at risk/high risk groups which will get the vaccine first. Healthcare providers have led the battle against COVID 19 from the front. The government wants you to be able to continue your work, without the fear of risk associated with the virus. Therefore, healthcare and frontline workers are among the first group of people to be vaccinated in the country.’

Another reply re-emphasises the reasoning that the first group includes healthcare workers because they are at high risk of contracting the infection and protecting them helps to sustain essential health services. The vaccination of frontline workers will help in reducing the societal and economic impact by reducing COVID-19 mortalities, as per the FAQs from the health ministry.