Doctors and hospital workers raise red flags as their names are registered en masse for the January 16 vaccination drive without their permission, despite the programme being 'voluntary'
A nurse shows an injection during the dry run. Pics/Satej Shinde
The countdown for the COVID-19 vaccination programme slated to begin on January 16 across India has started. But it has raised a barrage of questions in the minds of frontline staffers in the city, which remain unanswered. These are especially about voluntary registration, as they claim their names have been registered for the vaccination programme by the civic corporation, without taking their consent.
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While the additional municipal commissioner has said the entire vaccination programme is voluntary, some have questioned this. "How can it be 'voluntary' participation for vaccination, when I have not registered myself on the CoWIN mobile vaccine registration application, nor have I uploaded personal details giving consent to take the vaccine?" asked a civic-run hospital doctor.
A senior doctor from a civic-run COVID Care Centre said it has submitted a list of 800 staff including doctors, paramedical, nurses and support staff to the civic health officials. Asked whether the consent of the staff was taken before submission of the list, the centre head said, "no." The response was the same from many staffers at civic-run hospitals.
Participants in the dry run on Jan 8 at Cooper Hospital
There is a lot of ambiguity about other aspects of the vaccination programme as well. Besides the consent issue, doctors and medical staff are also unaware whether they should take the vaccine if they have recovered from COVID-19, whether they will be penalised if they don't take it, or if they can take it later, etc.
"I am attached to a civic-run hospital, and my name is registered in the list of vaccine participants as a front-line warrior. I have the right to know the pros and cons when my body will be injected with a vaccine against COVID-19. I have the right to know the immediate, short-term and long-term efficacy of the vaccine (Covishield or Covaxin) that will be injected," said a senior doctor.
'What if I miss D-Day?'
Some staffers were concerned about missing the day they are called. They wondered if they would get a chance to take the vaccine on a later date. Or if departmental action could be taken against them for not taking the vaccine.
Staff prepare for the dry run on January 8 at Cooper Hospital
A senior doctor from a peripheral hospital added, "We have submitted the list of our medical and non-medical staff. Some of our staffers in their fifties have tested positive for SARS-CoV2, and it is presumed that they already have the required antibodies in their system. But are they still expected to take the vaccine? Some have comorbid health conditions, but we have no clarity if they should take the vaccine. These are not universally proven vaccines and every health care worker has the right to give their consent, even if they are voluntarily being registered on the application."
"India's drugs regulator has approved the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. Most of our doctors are keen on the Serum vaccine, but nobody knows which out of the two vaccines will be brought to Mumbai. We don't have a choice of vaccine. Also, trial studies data of both vaccines has not been made public, definitely raising concerns in even our minds," explained a doctor from a peripheral hospital.
Dr Avinash Ankush, senior medical officer, heading the extended immunisation programme for the eastern suburbs of Mumbai, said, "We must understand that this is purely a voluntary programme and there is no mandate that all healthcare workers registered on the mobile application CoWIN have to opt for the vaccination."
Dr Ankush further added, "On an average we have created teams of five, which include 1 vaccinator and 4 vaccination officers, who will be vaccinating 100 registered beneficiaries in their given slot. On an average, a peripheral hospital like Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar (E ), can handle per day 1,000 beneficiaries in the morning and afternoon shifts."
'Signed consent at centres'
Dr T P Lahane, director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, and also Nodal Officer, COVID Task force, Maharashtra said about the consent of the registered health care workers, "The registered health care workers will get a mobile message from the application CoWIN, and at the respective centres their signed consent will be taken."
"The COVID vaccine programme is monitored by BMC for Mumbai city and the State Public Health department committee has been formed to monitor the same across the state. The state COVID Task force is providing the required support," he added.
"We have registered almost 1.26 lakh frontline health care workers (doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff) who directly come in contact with COVID-19 patients in phase one. They will be the first to get the vaccine and subsequent booster dose, as and when the vaccination programme begins," explained Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health)
"The second phase will have 1.35 lakh staffers (the support staff teams, including police, conservation, housekeeping, caterers etc). The Mumbai police have provided us with a list of 30,000 policemen and officers, who will get the vaccine. We are presuming that by January 15, we should get the vaccines, as the central government has decided to roll out the vaccination programme from January 16 and we are fully prepared. Our dry run was also a success. We have now shortlisted 15 hospitals and COVID Jumbo Centres for the vaccination programme and to ensure that crowds do not gather at a particular centre," said Kakani.
Asked if he has registered his name for the vaccination programme, Kakani said, "I have not registered myself on the mobile application, but if my name is given in the list for uploading, and if I get a message, I will surely take the vaccine. We do not know which vaccine we will get. The entire programme is voluntary."
When asked if any document or signature of staff is obtained for 'voluntary' participation, he said, "This is a voluntary programme, health care workers who are registered should take the vaccine shot. They may even change their mind at the last moment or not turn up to take the vaccine. The application might generate a certificate for those who participated in the vaccine programme."
Despite saying this, when asked about a penalty for those who skipped or did not participate, Kakani said, "As of now, we have no information on the same nor we know if those people will be getting the vaccine at a later date."
Highlights of vaccine programme
Prime Minister reviews status of COVID-19 and preparedness for vaccination drive to kick off on January 16 after the forthcoming festivals including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu, etc.
Priority will be given to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers, estimated to be around 3 crore. They will be followed by those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crore.
The vaccination exercise isn underpinned by the principles of people's participation (Jan Bhagidari); utilizing experience of elections (booth strategy) and Universal Immunization Programme (UIP); there will be no compromise of existing healthcare services, especially national programmes and primary health care; no compromise on scientific and regulatory norms, other SOPs; and an orderly and smooth implementation driven by technology.
The Prime Minister was also apprised about the Co-WIN Vaccine Delivery Management System. The unique digital platform will provide real time information of vaccine stocks, their storage temperature and individualised tracking of beneficiaries of the COVID-19 vaccine.
This platform will assist the programme managers across all levels through automated session allocation for preregistered beneficiaries, their verification and for generating a digital certificate upon successful completion of the vaccine schedule.
More than 79 lakh beneficiaries have been registered on the platform. As the vaccinators and vaccine administrators comprise a crucial pillar of the vaccination exercise, their training process was detailed out. At least 2,360 participants were trained during national level Training of Trainers which comprised state immunisation officers, cold chain officers, IEC officials, development partners etc.
More than 61,000 programme managers, 2 lakh vaccinators and 3.7 lakh other vaccination team members have been trained so far at state, district and block levels. The Prime Minister was also apprised on the three phases of dry runs having been conducted across the country. The third dry run was conducted on January 8 across 615 districts covering 4,895 session sites in 33 States/UTs.
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