Rajat Sharma hails UP CM’s move to vaccinate media persons in the state

News Broadcasters Association President Rajat Sharma has welcomed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive to his government to carry out free vaccination for all media personnel working in the state and their close family members.

In a statement, Sharma said, “The UP Chief Minister has directed his officials to open special vaccination centres exclusively for media personnel, and if possible, set up such centres at media work places, as per standard protocol,  in order to give free vaccination to all media personnel and their close family members, above the age of 18 years.”

The UP Chief Minister’s directive came following a letter sent by the NBA President, in which he had requested the Chief Minister to make available COVID-19 vaccines to all media personnel and their family members on priority. In his letter, Sharma wrote, “TV reporters and camerapersons of news channels based in Noida have been working as frontline COVID-19 warriors for more than a year by reporting the pandemic situation and creating awareness among the people.”

He further wrote, “Noida has emerged as a big centre for national electronic media, and most of the TV journalists and camerapersons work and live here. In most of the cases, TV reporters and camerapersons have to work in the midst of crowds, and meet COVID-19 patients, doctors and health care workers in hospitals. Hence, the need for vaccinating them and their family members on priority.”

The NBA President also wrote, “Media houses, where these journalists work, are ready to bear the expenses of vaccination. We are ready to set up vaccination camps for journalists, where nurses and doctors can be arranged as per COVID-19 protocol, and separate space will be created for half an hour observation post-vaccination. Media is ready to accept any other guidelines, if provided.”

“In view of the danger of COVID-19 virus spreading among media personnel, I would request you to ensure that the UP Government provides vaccination to media personnel and their family members at the earliest,” the letter concluded.