The Uttar Pradesh Government ordered a probe into the recovery of 29 syringes filled with vaccine from a dustbin at the Jamalpur Urban Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Aligarh, raising doubts about the vaccinator pretending to administer the jabs to beneficiaries and later discarding the vaccines.
Admitting that 29 syringes filled with vaccine doses were recovered from a dustbin at the PHC by the cold chain manager during an inspection, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Aligarh, Dr BPS Kalyani suspected it to be a case of fake vaccination with the vaccinator (ANM) filling the vaccine in syringes but not injecting the vaccine and later dumping the same. The officer, however, could not explain as to why the vaccinators could be doing so.
“I have ordered an enquiry into the incident and asked District Immunisation Officer Dr Durgesh Kumar and ACMO Dr MK Mathur to submit a report within three days. Action will be taken against the ANM, if found guilty. While the government insists on vaccination to prevent corona infection, the disgraceful act of the Health department employees has brought a bad name to the district and the department,” he said.
The CMO further said, “This is a national programme and at the time of disaster, such an act falls under the category of treason. In addition to the legal action, the dismissal of the guilty person will be recommended. The higher ups in the Health department have been informed about this.”
The Health department has earmarked the Urban PHC as a vaccine centre in Jamalpur, a Muslim-dominated area, as large number of cases were reported from there. Three ANMs were imparted training and deputed to administer vaccine doses at the centre. A medical officer was also made incharge of the PHC to oversee the process. On Saturday, the Urban PHC was inspected by vaccine cold chain manager Ravendra Sharma, who submitted his report on Monday, alleging that the ANM not only misled people in the name of vaccination but also jeopardised the campaign
The report said: “It seems that the ANM filled the vaccine dose in syringe and injected the needle into the body, but pulled the needle out without injecting the vaccine.”