Covid duty medicos refusing vaccination may have to sign declaration

One of the recommendations made by the state Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee is to get signed declarations, with witnesses, from medicos posted to Covid duties and who refuse to get vaccinated.

While some students say they don't mind giving such declarations as long as it is not used to penalise them, others say, this will help the government in shrugging off responsibility in treating these medicos in case they contract Covid after their ward duties tending to Covid patients.

'Don't penalise us'

Dr Surya B N, an MBBS intern from Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, who has finished one year as a house surgeon and is awaiting rural posting for the past two months said, "Earlier, we had no choice, but to take the vaccine offered. I have taken Covaxin, when it was being offered during clinical trial mode. Students don't have a problem in signing such a declaration as far as it is not used to penalise them later."

Dr Kiran N C, vice president, SIMS (Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences) Junior Doctors' and Medical Students' Association, told DH, "The government, instead of taking signed declaration form, should honour the service of healthcare workers who work in Covid wards and take responsibility in treating them. The government is trying to escape from the responsibility of treating those who get infected after Covid duty."

Asked how such declaration forms help the government, TAC member Dr C N Manjunath said, "Some doctors and staff have backed out of taking the vaccine. It is very difficult to tackle this actually. In case they contract Covid and develop complications, they will not be reimbursable. Hence, the declaration forms."

Dr P G Girish, director, Department of Medical Education, said, "We want frontline workers coming in contact with Covid patients whether in the ward or ICU, to take the vaccine, so that they're safer. In the last 10 days, the cases have increased and so has doctors' involvement in treating them. If they don't take the vaccine and get infected, their treatment charges won't be borne by the government. If they're adamant about not taking the vaccine, they or their parents cannot question us if they get infected after working in Covid ward."

Anil Kumar, principal secretary, medical education, told DH, "We are yet to issue a circular to this effect. We have to look at the TAC report and take a call on this. As far as vaccine uptake is concerned, it remains voluntary."