Meghalaya: District administrations encouraging people to get vaccinated

Shillong: Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek on Wednesday said that various district administrations in the state are using several methods to encourage people to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
The moves include awarding Rs 10,000 to fully vaccinated persons selected through the random lottery in the West Khasi Hills district.
However, when asked that the East Khasi Hills district administration has issued a stricture that shops without staff vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be permitted to open from June 24 onwards which is almost like forcing, Hek said, “We just appealed to the people. Why do we need the shopkeepers to take the vaccination is because since they are meeting hundreds of consumers, to protect themselves and to protect the consumers. If the certificate is displayed it will motivate others too to take the vaccine.”
The Health and Family Welfare Minister informed that in West Khasi Hills the administration has made its own strategy.
“Those who have completed two doses, one among them will be randomly selected and rewarded with Rs 10, 000,” Hek pointed out.
Hek also said that the government has to apply its mind to encourage the people to take the vaccine.
“The district administration is doing this to motivate citizens to take the vaccine. We have left it to the Deputy Commissioners to use their wisdom to encourage people to take the vaccine. This is not the decision taken only by the Deputy Commissioner but it was taken during the review meeting of the government,” he said.
The Health Minister pointed out that one such strategy was to appeal through the Church elders.