COVID-19: No Vaccine, No Benefits, Odisha Govt Warns Health & Frontline Workers

Bhubaneswar: The state government on Tuesday said the health and frontline workers, who refuse to take COVID-19 vaccine, will be deprived of the benefits extended to them in case of coronavirus infection.

In a letter to district collectors and heads of civic bodies, additional chief secretary (Health) PK Mohapatra said it has come to notice that despite repeated instructions, some registered healthcare workers and frontline workers have not taken the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination.

“If we don’t fully utilise the vaccines allotted to us, we will be missing out on a critical opportunity to fight the pandemic. Further, the healthcare workers and frontline workers, who are not vaccinated, put both their community and workplaces at risk of transmission,” Mohapatra said.

In a warning to those neglecting the vaccination, he said they will not get government benefits like free treatment, financial and other benefits in case of death due to COVID-19.

Mohapatra requested the collectors to take steps to ensure that the workers take the vaccine with the timeline given by the Union Health Ministry.

On February 5, Cuttack collector had warned the health and Anganwadi workers who fail to take COVID-19 vaccine by February 10 that they will have to face pay cut or withdrawal of stipend.

It may be noted that over 85% of healthcare workers have been vaccinated and the vaccination of frontline workers is going on in the state.

Also Read: Pay Cut For Those Missing Covid Vaccine: Warns Cuttack Collector