According to the latest information the Meghalaya government, instructed all its employees to get vaccinated before christmas i.e., December 23, for Covid-19.
Chief Secretary Rebecca Vanessa Suchiang issued an order, according to which employees who are not vaccinated have to be vaccinated before 23rd December.
This order came after Meghalaya high court directed the state to adopt an aggressive policy in conducting awareness drives and to make people understand the necessity to vaccinate themselves.
The High Court of Meghalaya has said “the state should not relent on the vaccination drive or trying to persuade people to take the vaccination or even provide for disincentives upon refusal.”
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said, “It may serve the state well if the district councils and other authorities, including the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, also undertake a campaign to educate people and convince them to take the vaccination”.
Special cases of exception in Meghalaya
An official added that an individual may only be exempted from receiving the COVID vaccine based on the committee’s recommendations and certification.
Further, the official also added that, District Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI), will review the cases of individuals who are not eligible due to medical reasons, which is present in all districts.
Also, The chief secretary has issued an immediate effect to all government departments to follow protocol.
“It will also be open to the state to formulate rules or guidelines so that persons unwilling to take vaccination do not expose themselves to others,” the court said.
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