The SMS leaves out the guards of services such as ICU or Emergencies in the protocol, although Pedreño announces an instruction to correct this situation, which generated confusion this Monday in hospitals
The Murcian Health Service (SMS) had to rectify this Monday after the controversy caused by the exclusion of non-health personnel from the booster vaccination protocol against Covid in hospitals and health centers. The situation was denounced by the general secretary of the Health Professionals Union (SPS), Antonio Martínez: “The caretakers of services such as ICU or Emergency are left out, while health workers who are not currently developing care work can be vaccinated” .
During the morning there was confusion in the hospitals regarding the application of the protocol. First thing in the morning, guards were vaccinated normally in Los Arcos but, later, several workers who went to the vaccination point were informed that they were outside the protocol, according to professionals from the center. Meanwhile, in La Arrixaca these personnel were vaccinated.
In the protocol presented by the SMS to the unions, it is detailed that the population to be vaccinated is the “health personnel of Primary and Hospital Care”, as well as “the personnel of the social health field who work in care centers for the elderly and with disabilities, including residences and day centers ». The literal nature of this protocol assumes that non-health professionals of the SMS are excluded but not those who, without being health workers, work in residences or disability centers, emphasizes Martínez.
The Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, defended this Monday that the protocol conforms to the provisions of the national strategy, which, as he explained, limits the booster vaccination to health workers. He also announced that an instruction is being drawn up to correct this situation and include non-health workers.
Health sources confirmed that the presentation of the protocol caused a surprise in hospitals on Monday. The uproar caused finally led to a quick rectification by the Ministry.
The vaccination of non-health personnel in administrative facilities, such as Habitamia, caused controversy at the beginning of the year, as it occurred at a time of shortage of doses and when the national strategy made health personnel and vulnerable age groups a priority. At that time, not only the administrative staff of office buildings were prioritized, but also all workers from external hospital companies.
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