The People Task Force for COVID-19 (PTFC-19) has appealed to the state government to conduct vaccination programmes on an equal footing with testing programmes in regard to the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccination is vital in combating the pandemic; however, giving primary focus on vaccinations and spreading awareness about it while relegating testing and tracing activities to a secondary status have created a vulnerable spot in the fight against the virus, PTFC-19 stated in a release signed by its convenor BK Moirangthem on Friday.
There is still a strong need to conduct testing programmes since receiving the vaccine does not necessarily entail that the individuals are totally safe and invulnerable to repeat infections. The people who have been vaccinated can also spread the virus in case of re-infections, so it is important that testing programmes should continue for people as well for those who have been vaccinated, PTFC 19 stated.
It is also important that the masses still adhere to the preventive measures and SOP issued by the state government. Regardless of people getting vaccinated or not, if testing and tracing processes are discontinued or considered secondary, the issue of spreading the virus will always remain with the arrival of the new variants of COVID-19 virus, it added.
PTFC 19 further appealed to the state government to check up on the public gatherings and other similar activities for the upcoming elections. Even if elections are held, they should be conducted under strict protocols, and politics should never be a priority before the lives of people, it stated.
