Govt Serious On ‘hotels’ Offering ‘vaccination packages’

The vaccination drive took a pace in the country with multiple states delivering the vaccine to individuals aged above 18. However, multiple-star hotels are making plans to make money out of this. It has come to the notice of the Union government that several hospitals joined hands with hotels to vaccine individuals by offering multiple packages. The government directed the states and union territories to initiate action against such packages and the institutions offering them.

Additional Secretary to Health ministry Manohar Agnani has written to the states and union territories regarding the same. “It has come to the notice of the Union Health Ministry that some private hospitals are giving packages for Covid Vaccination in collaboration with some hotels, which is against the guidelines issued for the National Covid Vaccination Program,” he mentioned in the letter.

As per Covid Vaccination guidelines following four options are available for carrying out Covid Vaccination.

1. Government Covid Vaccination Centre
2. Private Covid Vaccination Centre run by a private hospital
3. Work place Covid Vaccination Centre at government offices to be run by government hospitals and at private companies to be not by private hospitals.
4. Near to Home Covid Vaccination Centre for the elderly and differently-abled person to be organized at group housing societies. RWA offices, community centers. Panchayat Bhawan, Schools/Colleges, Old Age Homes, etc. on a temporary basis.

“Apart from this there is no other avenues to carry out vaccination under the national Covid Vaccination Program, therefore vaccination carried out in star hotels is contrary to the guidelines and must be stopped immediately. Necessary legal & Administrative actions should be initiated against such institutions. Therefore, you are also requested to monitor and ensure that National Covid Vaccination drive is carried out as per prescribed guidelines.” the letter stated.