Those who are yet to take their first shot of Covid-19 vaccine will not be eligible to use any civic service from September 20 announced by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. This decision helps to speed upac vaccination and reduce vaccination hesitancy among people.
Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar tweeted that people who have not taken the vaccine will not be allowed to enter AMC-run swimming pools, libraries, urban health centres, sports complex, AMTS-BRTS buses, Kankaria lakefront, Sabarmati riverfront, city civic centres, corporation buildings and Kamala Nehru Zoological Garden.
“Entry will be allowed ONLY for persons having ONE or BOTH doses (if eligible) of vaccine for availing various municipal services. Vaccine certificate shall be checked at entry point of such facilities. To be effective from 20 September, Monday,” Kumar tweeted.
Health officer of AMC Dr Bhavin Solanki said, “AMC has begun a mega vaccination drive in Ahmedabad. Till now, 53 lakh doses have been administered. These include 36.59 lakh first doses and 16.44 lakh who have taken both the doses.”
He said efforts are being made to expedite vaccination. The decision would be implemented from September 20.
He also clarified that people who had recently been infected with Covid-19 and were asked to take the vaccine dose after a stipulated time will have to carry a copy of their Covid-19 test report. Those allergic to vaccines will have to furnish a copy of the doctor’s certificate. Citizens who have not taken even a single shot would be barred from utilising the corporation’s facilities.
Slamming AMC’s decision, lawyer K R Koshti said, “The decision taken by the AMC is one-sided. If the Covid vaccine is not mandatory, citizens cannot be forced to take it. Forcing them to take the vaccine in this manner will only pave way for a controversy.”
Social activist Dev Desai said, “Citizens who are paying their taxes are told that they will not be allowed to avail of services because they are not vaccinated. Those who do not have smartphones will now have to carry a physical copy of the vaccine certificate. The decision reeks of authoritarianism. People should be encouraged to get vaccinated but it is not right to force them like this.”
Over 18L vaccinated in Guj on Friday
More than 18 lakh eligible citizens were vaccinated against Covid-19 till 7 pm during the mega vaccination drive organised by the Gujarat government on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 71st birthday on Friday, an official said.
The number is likely to increase further, as the inoculation drive will end at 10 pm, the official said.
As per an official release, the state health department is continuously monitoring the drive and trying to persuade people to take the jab against the disease.
Earlier on Thursday, officials had said that the state government had set a target of covering 35 lakh persons under this drive.
“The aim is to cover more than 35 lakh beneficiaries and ensure 100 per cent vaccination in the state’s 7,500 villages,” Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Manoj Aggarwal said.
More than 100 Deendayal Aushadhalaya (dispensaries) will become operational in the state from Friday on a pilot basis, with the objective of providing health care services to the state’s working class and poor families.