Telangana requests vaccination to those with high exposure to public

Teachers, drivers of buses and cabs, bank employees cited as examples

The Telangana government has requested the Central government to allow COVID-19 vaccination to those who have high rate of exposure to the public. The State’s Director of Public Health Dr G Srinivasa Rao cited teachers, drivers of buses and cabs, those working in banks, employees at commercial establishments as examples of those who have high exposure to people. Apart from them, street vendors, shopkeepers, and others too get exposed to more people. The senior official said that they are expecting a response to the request in a few days. For the past few months, managements of private companies have been approaching Health department officials with requests to vaccinate all their employees regardless of age group. It was published in these columns that the managements approached the officials with list of their employees. Currently, apart from Health Care Workers (HCWs), Frontline Workers (FLWs), the vaccine is offered to people who are 60 years or above and those belonging to 45-59 years with co-morbidities. From April 1, the jabs would also be given to people above 45 years regardless of co-morbidities. When asked if they have requested people below 45 years with co-morbidities too to be vaccinated, Dr Srinivasa replied in the affirmative.