Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has requested the Union Government to include Journalists as Front Line Workers(FLW)s in the COVID-19 Vaccination process.
ACS Health & Family Welfare, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra has written to the Union Secretary Health & Family Welfare in this regard here on 17 March.
Mr.Mohapatra has requested the Union Government to widen the list of FLWs for COVID-19 Vaccination process.
He has said that the officials from different Departments of the State Government, who were engaged for COVID-19 Surveillance and Containment Measures at State and District Level are being vaccinated as FLWs in the State since February-2021.
However, many categories of persons who are at risk of exposure to infection due to the nature of their work have not been included as FLWs.
Hence the State Government has suggested to include Journalists, and other personnel of Print and Electronic Media, Staff engaged in maintenance of Essential Services like electricity, Water Supply, Staff engaged at Airport, Railways and Sea Ports.
Mr.Mohapatra has also favoured Sevayats (Priests) of Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri, Lord Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar for inclusion as FLWs.
Requesting the Union Government in this regard, ACS Health & Family Welfare Mr.Mohapatra has said that inclusion of above categories as FLWs for COVID-19 Vaccination purpose on priority basis is needed accordingly approval may be sent to the State Government at the earliest.