Frontline workers in the aviation sector should be considered for Covid-19 vaccination on a priority basis after health workers have been given the jabs, the Civil Aviation Ministry has urged the Union Health Ministry.
India plans to inoculate about 30 crore people in the first phase, starting with three crore healthcare and frontline workers, according to Dec. 28 vaccination guidelines. These include the armed forces, prison staff, municipal workers, among others, but not aviation sector employees.
In a letter dated Jan. 20, Pradeep Singh Kharola, secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, wrote to his counterpart in the health ministry Rajesh Bhushan: "You will agree with me that the crew, engineers, technicians, ground staff, frontline workers in aviation have certain risk elements while performing their duties in a most diligent manner and make air transportation a safe mode of transport."
Recently, airlines and airports had approached the civil aviation ministry on the need to vaccinate their staff.
Source: PTI
