India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has issued fresh guidelines to facilitate a fast and efficient vaccination programme for the aviation community.
As per the new guidelines, all players in the civil aviation sector would be advised to cover their personnel under the ongoing vaccination programme; and organisations that “have already made arrangements with government/private service providers for the vaccination to their employees may continue to do so.”
In addition, airport operators have been asked to set up dedicated vaccination facility in their respective airports for the personnel involved in aviation or related services (including the contractual, casual). It is stated that the airport operator should immediately contact state governments/private service providers (hospitals), who are willing to set up covid vaccination centres at airports.
Priority should be given to cover the ATC, the crew of airlines (both cockpit and cabin), mission critical and passenger facing staff. All airport operators have been advised to designate a nodal officer for coordinating the drive.
The guidelines state that required facilities like setting up of vaccination counters, segregated waiting area (pre as well as post-vaccination) are to be established. Facilities for the personnel visiting (help desk, drinking water, ventilation fans, washrooms) need to be arranged, taking into account the Covid safety protocols.
The cost per vaccination dose can be decided by the airport operator with the service provider. These facilities would be available for all aviation sector stakeholders at the same cost. Besides, all agencies working in the airports eco-system need to sponsor their personnel to avail the facilities.
The guidelines stated that chairman, AAI will hold regular meetings to review the progress and coordinate with the Ministry and DGCA to address issues and challenges.
MoCA tweeted:
