Air India cancels COVID-19 vaccination camp for two days
Air India on Monday told its employees that it will not be able to hold COVID-19 vaccination camps for them at the Delhi Airport on Tuesday and Thursday due to the non-availability of vaccines. The airline had last Tuesday said that it would vaccinate all its employees against COVID-19 by the end of this month. Here are more details.
Air India had earlier demanded priority vaccination for flying crew
Notably, Air India had earlier demanded inoculation of the flying crew on a priority basis citing risk to their lives from the deadly infection. The Times of India had reported that the Federation of Indian Pilots, a registered body representing about 5,000 commercial pilots had written to the cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on May 1, pointing out the need for pilots to get vaccinated.
ICPA had earlier threatened to halt work
Earlier, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), the pilots' union of national carrier Air India, had threatened to "stop work" if the airline management fails to vaccinate its flying crew over 18 years of age on a priority basis.
Fresh dates will be notified on re-confirmation from the government
In a communication to employees on Monday, Air India said, "The proposed COVID-19 vaccination camp at GSD Complex, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on May 11 and May 13 stands canceled because government authorities have expressed inability to hold these camps due to non-availability of vaccines." "Fresh dates will be notified once we get re-confirmation from government authorities," it added.
Several states are struggling to inoculate their population
Reportedly, many states including Delhi and Maharashtra are facing a vaccine shortage to inoculate their population. India has been badly hit by the second wave of coronavirus infection as hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of oxygen, drugs, equipment, and beds.
India recorded 3,754 COVID-19 deaths on Monday
After recording over four lakh fresh cases for four consecutive days, India witnessed a single-day rise of 3,66,161 COVID-19 cases on Monday, which pushed its tally to 2,26,62,575, according to the health ministry. The death toll due to the viral disease climbed to 2,46,116 with 3,754 more people succumbing to it. However, experts have pointed out that the COVID-19 cases and deaths are under-recorded.
