The Meghalaya government has issued a directive asking all its employees working in different state government departments to get vaccinated for COVID-19 before December 23.

This directive of the Meghalaya government follows a High Court order on December 6, asking the government to adopt an aggressive policy in conducting awareness drives and convince people for vaccinations.

Meghalaya chief secretary – Rebecca Vanessa Suchiang, in an order, stated that all state government employees who are yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are to get themselves vaccinated before December 23.

“In the event that they are not eligible due to medical reasons, the District AEFI Committee which is present in all districts will review their case. Based on the committee’s recommendations and certification only an individual may be exempted from taking COVID vaccine,” the order read.

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The official order also directed all state government departments in Meghalaya to follow the protocols with immediate effect.

Earlier, the Meghalaya High Court while hearing a PIL on December 6 had stated that “it appears that there are reservations in certain quarters regarding vaccination”.

“The state should adopt an aggressive policy in undertaking awareness drives and trying to convince people to vaccinate themselves, not only for their own benefit, but also for the protection of others,” the High Court had observed.