Protect the Warriors, an umbrella body of doctors, has placed two demands before the health department. They are seeking the vaccination of private medical practitioners who could not register through the Co-WIN app which has stopped accepting registrations. They also want the start of vaccination of the elderly before a second wave of Covid-19 hits India.

“Unfortunately it is being noticed that other than doctors or nurses or healthcare staff, non-clinical workers of hospitals who are not directly exposed to patient contact like office staff, marketing and HR personnel have been given priority. Most of the doctors are still awaiting their turn or have to request the concerned institutions...,” said their appeal submitted a fortnight ago. The central government wants the first round of vaccination for healthcare workers to be done by February 20.

“Bengal has 50,000 doctors and barely 10,000 have been vaccinated. Those doing private practice are unable to access the vaccine as well as those involved in alternative medicine though they too get exposed to patients,” said a PTW office-bearer, adding that they want elderly parents of healthcare officials to be given priority in the next round.

He admitted that certain extranuous circumstances might have kept some from taking the vaccine. “Those taking flu shots, for example, might have avoided the vaccine as one has to wait for at least 15 days,” he said.