Govt fails to vaccinate rural doctors against swine flu

Chandigarh, December 10

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H1N1 (swine flu) is knocking on the door but the Punjab Government is yet to immunise the first line of healthcare workers from the deadly virus.

Over 3,000 employees, including around 800 doctors working in Rural Development and Panchayats Department, have not been given any vaccination against the highly infectious disease. There are around 1,200 rural dispensaries and its employees offer the first line of treatment to rural population.

According to Health Department officials, the department has procured around 15,000 doses of the vaccine but these are yet to be given to doctors and frontline healthcare workers. The officials said since rural doctors were not employed with the Health Department, it is the responsibility of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats to procure vaccine for them.

Dr JP Narula, president, Rural Medical Services Association, Punjab, confirmed that they had never been given the vaccine against swine flu. — TNS