Many parents in this district are worried as they are struggling to get their newborn vaccinated after the government directed medical staff to focus on fight against COVID19
The parents complained that with doctors and paramedicalstaff completely engaged in treating COVID19 cases, their babies were missingout on important vaccines.
“I have one-week old kid who needs to get vaccinated now. Itis crucial that they get vaccinated. I came here at CHC Hajin to get my babyvaccinated, but doctors are busy in treating COVID-19 patients. No one has beendesignated for vaccination to newborns?” said Mehmooda, a mother, who had comefrom Shahgund village.
Another mother, with a three-day-old baby, said that she waseven refused for vaccination by her nearby health centre people.
“The health centre people out-rightly rebuked me. They saidthat they didn’t even have a doctor for general patients. Besides, attendingkids in such circumstances is not possible,” said the mother with herthree-day-old baby in her lap.
She complained, “Even here at CHC Hajin I wasn’t able to getmy baby vaccinated as no one here has been assigned this job. What am Isupposed to do?”
Another mother Asiya, who had recently given birth to a babygirl was skeptical about the future of her daughter’s health as her repeatedvisits to a nearby health centre in Nowgam village had not yielded her thedesired results.
“I went to the nearby health centre in Nowgam villageseveral times, but all I did was return back home dejected without getting mybaby vaccinated. I am so much worried about the future health of my littlebaby,” Asiya said.
The parents are asking authorities to suggest them analternative so that they can get their babies vaccinated.
Recently, Chief Medical Office Bandipora issued an orderwherein all the doctors and paramedical staff posted at PHCs/NTPHC’s/Uds/Sub-Centres (except NTPHC Nowgam /Naidkhai and Ajas) were directedto attend their duties at CHC Hajin to join in fight against COVID- 19.
All the mothers, who were also waiting for their newborns toget vaccinated, suggested that the administration should make some sort ofarrangements or designate some people for the vaccination as it is alsoimportant.
Doctors in Hajin confirmed that due to Coronavirus threatthey are not vaccinating babies.
Expressing their helplessness in this regard, doctors said,”We remain all day busy with the COVID-19 suspected patients. We have no timeto be in hospital and give vaccination to newborn babies.”
Medical Superintendent Sumbal Dr Muzaffar Khan admitted, theimmunisation to newly born babies had been put on hold due to the ongoingpandemic.
Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Tajamul did not respondto the telephone calls from the reporter.