AiMeD urges Centre to include MedTech employees in vax priority list

Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD on Wednesday wrote a letter to NITI Aayog member (health) V.K. Paul, who is also the chairman of the Nation Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), for inclusion of Medical Device Manufacturers Employees/Ancillaries and Distribution Chains in the list of frontline workers and be vaccinated on priority saying they worked through the epidemic despite facing an enhanced risk of infection or, at the very least, allow such expenses to be included in corporate social responsibility activities.

As the government has given a go ahead for corporates to vaccinate their employees, it is also essential for the employees working in the medical manufacturing field to get vaccinated free of cost, as they have been working to support the medical industry during these tough times without taking leave.

Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD said, “Medical Devices & Pharmaceutical Industry & distribution & retail supply chain is considered an essential product & services and also the groceries and kirana shops and employees. We can also relax at home and our employees can take a 2-4 week break but risk going out to work daily since over 14 months but are not in any Central or State Govt. priority list of vaccination to ensure protecting those who help protect public. Young Biomedical Engineers commission and maintain Ventilators etc in COVID ICU wards without vaccination protection. Similarly, for journalists, ground staff of airlines & air hostess, hotel/hospitals receptionist, etc, they need to be on a priority list as these are potential super spreaders and have to risk working in the field.”

A similar appeal was made by The All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), a nationwide organization of 9.40 lakh chemists in India, may any time join the lockdown to protect and save the lives of its members, as they were sidelined while considering vaccination priority. The association did not opt for such a move so far as it wanted to ensure availability of medicines during the pandemic.

The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists said on Thursday that their appeals to the Centre to include their staff members into priority populations such as frontline workers have remained

Rajiv Nath said the Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry had in February written to the health ministry seeking action on association’s request that the medical device industry employees be included in the vaccination priority list.

“Our employees play a critical role in the supply chain for medical devices — they need to be protected on priority. Otherwise, if they fall ill, there could be supply chain disruptions, leading to localised shortages of items such as oxygen masks, syringes and intravenous sets.” Said Rajiv Nath.

“Anecdotal accounts of Covid-19 deaths among members of the device supply chain network already pointed to possible localized disruptions in supplies.” He further added.

More than 900,000 chemists across India have threatened to down shutters if their employees are not given covid-19 vaccines on priority similar to healthcare and front line workers such as security personnel.

“Meanwhile, employees fall ill as not vaccinated and production losses are there, and supply chain disruptions leading to localised shortages in some cities. Today there are shortages of oxygen & oxygen cylinders & oxygen concentrator, tomorrow maybe for oxygen masks, IV sets and basics like syringes. Is fire fighting the only way or threatening to shut down as announced by the chemists association, or we should be focused on preventive measures and management of limited resources by prioritised access that no one will question as being unjustified”.

“We do understand that vaccine supplies are limited and the need to prioritize access comes when resources are limited and as current status is leading to free for all chaos it is may be time to reset the vaccination access policy”, urged Nath.

AIMED estimates about 20,000 medical device dealers and around 100,000 employees of their Members which needs to be vaccinated on priority & AIOCD has demanded priority shots for an estimated 940,000 employees and workers.
MB Bureau