Mismanagement in vaccinating migrant workers should perturb any govt but not ours one

A media report on Friday said anger, confusion and protest lurched a crowd of migrant workers who gathered at seven city hospital centres where the government had announced the first doses of Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine would be administered beginning on Thursday on an urgent basis. Those travelling to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait would get it first to avoid quarantine on arrival in those countries. But the process was marred by lack of clear directions and anomalies causing sufferings to people who gathered to get shots.
As it appears, many rushed to those centres to get their shots with visa in hand braving ‘stringent’ lockdown — some from distant districts hiring transports — as the lockdown came into effect on the day. But much to their dismay, they were turned back either for not having done online e-registration earlier and those who made it were told e-registration process has hit snags and they have to wait a few more days. The government announcement lacked clear instructions.
This is yet another example of utter government failure to meet the medical needs of a smaller number of people before the start of their trips abroad. We know that the nation-wide Covid-19 vaccination programme remained grounded despite a terrible rise in daily death and infection rates. We have no vaccine in stock, not enough hospital beds or oxygen at hospitals. People seeking admission for tests and treatment were turned back in big numbers from hospital doors. It showed the government has no clear vaccination plan nor coordination. And now it appears, the health authorities have equally failed to organise a coordinated vaccination for migrant workers.
It seems that they lacked serious preparation and are now blaming the ITC department for e-registration failure. But why then the announcement came from the government before fixing everything. Why were they indifferent to figure out the sufferings of vaccine seekers who would come from the countryside. We understand that the government made the hurried announcement to cover up its overall failure to handle the pandemic. Report said it was yet to send the vaccines to six of the seven designated centres. Around 2.5 million expatriate workers are now languishing in uncertainty and we would ask the government to stop harassing people through this difficult time.
Failures are no reasons for this government to change. Greed keeps the government in power. They are unlucky to suffer as never before.