Bengaluru: While the health and family welfare department had advised staff in districts to take a day off — preferably on Sunday — every week from vaccinating people, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is yet to take a decision on pausing the drive.
The aim is to give healthcare workers some rest since they have been working continuously for the past eight months. While congratulating healthcare workers on the hard work they have put in over the past eight months, Dr Arundhathi Chandrashekar, state mission director, National Health Mission, Karnataka had advised all deputy commissioners and district health officers, to take a break from administering doses once a week.
“The move was to give them some rest and increase productivity. Healthcare workers are a fatigued lot,” said Dr Chandrashekar.
However, Randeep D, special commissioner, health, BBMP, indicated that opinion was divided on the issue. “We are yet to take a call,” he said. While one set of officials is keen on heeding the government advisory and suspending the drive on Sundays, another set is keen on continuing with the drive on all days of the week.
However, doctors in general hospitals in Bengaluru say the response is generally poor on Sundays. “Very few people walk into vaccination centres in general hospitals on Sundays,” said a doctor, who is relieved with the government’s advisory. “To serve a handful of them, our staff have to stay at their workstations all day. Of course, they all will be given an alternative off on a weekday, but there is very little work on Sundays. It’s a sheer waste of human resources and it impacts weekday schedules.”
In some centres, vaccine vials are not even opened on Sundays, especially if there are less than 10 people waiting for the shot.
“When there are only four or five, we are forced to make them wait, hoping more people will turn up for the dose,” said another doctor at a government hospital. “They get angry, but we can’t afford to open a vial for a few people and waste the rest of the doses. If there are less than 10 people, vaccines are not given on Sunday and people are asked to come on another day. Sunday drives are not useful.” A senior official admitted healthcare workers are exhausted since they have been working continuously for the past 18 months. “They have been working on the ground either involved in surveillance, testing people or vaccinating them. They need rest for one day a week,” the official said.
In most districts, staffers say working on Sundays is pointless since only a few come forward to get the shot. “It’s a good move by the government. Our workers are tired working every day,” said Dr Indumathi Patil, district health officer, Yadgir.
In Bengaluru Urban district, centres that are willing to continue working on Sundays will be allowed to remain open based on demand, said Dr Srinivas GA, district health officer. Tumakuru health officials said they will take a call on taking a Sunday break on Saturday.
