Srinagar, April 19: Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, on Monday issued an appeal to all eligible people including healthcare workers to get vaccinated immediately, underling that the contemporary situation was “challenging.”

“As you can see, covid-19 cases are rising day by day. A challenging situation is before all of us. To face the situation, two aspects are important and need to be given immediate attention,” he said in an audio message circulated by the department.

“One is that people must adhere in letter and spirit to covid-19 appropriate behavior such as wearing masks, maintain social distancing, wash or sanitize hands regularly,” he said, adding, “Second is vaccination. Those above 45 years of age, especially government employees, should immediately vaccinate themselves. There is evidence that those who vaccinate either do not contract the covid-19 or if they get infected, then the severity is far less.”

He said that health care workers were given the facility to vaccinate “but a number of them have not vaccinated themselves so far.”

“ I appeal all the health care workers as also above 45 years of age, whether government employees or not, to vaccinate themselves immediately,” he added. gns