An allegation that the Director of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Meghalaya had coerced his employees into taking the Covid-19 vaccine should “not be seen as a major issue,” none other than Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said today.
Yesterday, it was alleged by an NHM staff member who wished to remain anonymous that Ramkumar S had told the employees that they could either take the vaccine or lose their jobs. Being immunized is not mandatory, as Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek reiterated yesterday, however.
Today, Sangma admitted that he had yet to ascertain the facts in this particular instance.
“I have not spoken to the NHM [Director] but I am sure that even if he has made that comment it must have been in the interest of the healthcare workers,” the CM stated.
While saying that what was said, or not said, is not a major issue, the Chief Minister reinforced the importance of vaccination as a means to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic and that begins with the safety of health workers.
“Let us be clear about this fact: that it (vaccination) is for the safety of all the health workers and there has not been any major case of any kind of reaction to the vaccine, so it is a very safe vaccine as well,” Sangma said.
