At few private hospitals, get vaccine with certificate despite no comorbidity

Pay Rs 350 more besides vaccination charges and get inoculated for Covid-19 with a co-morbidities certificate even if you do not fall under that category.

Tricity’s private hospitals are minting money in the name of Covid-19 vaccination. Also, the age cap is hardly considered as there have been people as old as 18 years old who have been jabbed even when the vaccination is not open to all, except the priority group. This was revealed when the TOI recently visited some private hospitals across the Tricity and spoke to beneficiaries.

“We have to go to the US with our 18-year-old son. So we got the vaccination shot before he is denied to fly,” said one of the beneficiaries, who made certificates from a private hospital. There are others too who are worried about shortage of vaccines and have taken to malpractice.

“The hospitals have been informing that the Covid-19 vaccine supply will be exhausted. So we thought to pay for the certificate. Immunisation might be made mandatory for some services, including travelling etc.,” said a beneficiary.

As there is on spot registration, paying Rs 350 can fetch people a certificate of any of the 20 assigned comorbidities and allow Covid-19 vaccination. Sources at one of the hospitals said some are getting documents of eligible people for age priority and getting the vaccine shots on their name after consent. This will deny these eligible beneficiaries of vaccination as the portal will show them immunised.

“We shall randomly check such malpractice. If the certificate issued by any registered medical practitioner is found to be incorrect, forgery charges will be framed against that doctor,” said UT director health services Dr Amandeep Kang.

According to the government of India’s vaccination rollout plan, in the initial phase, Covid-19 vaccine was provided to the priority groups i.e. healthcare and frontline workers. Starting March 1, vaccination was allowed for those above the age of 60 years and between the age group of 45 years and 59 years with co-morbidities. There are around 20 dieases in the list of co-morbidities and it does not include hypertension or diabetes.

“I have been inspecting the health facilities at private centres as well. We did not come across such malpractice. However, we shall give strict instructions now,” said Dr Jasjeet Kaur, chief medical officer, Panchkula. TOI