New Delhi: The centre will commence 75-day long covid vaccination drive from July 15th to provide free precaution dose to the eligible population at Government vaccination centres across the country.
The special drive is aimed to increase uptake for the precaution dose of COVID vaccine among the eligible adult population (18 years and above).
According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Health, the programme will be implemented in a “mission mode” as a part of the celebration for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
To implement the drive, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has chaired a virtual meeting with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs and urged them to give an intensive and ambitious push towards full COVID19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precaution dose.
During the meeting the Union Health Secretary also highlighted that less percentage of precaution doses uptake among population groups aged 18 years & above (8%) and persons aged 60 years & above (27%) is a cause of concern.
The drive will continue till 30th September 2022. Those eligible for the Precaution Dose include all persons of ≥18 years who have completed 6 months (or 26 weeks) from the date of administration of 2nd dose.
States/UTs were urged to implement covid vaccination drive as a ‘Jan Abhiyaan’ with massive mass mobilization, through a camp approach.
“They were advised to organize special vaccination camps in the routes of Char Dham Yatra (Uttarakhand),Amarnath Yatra (Jammu &Kashmir), Kanwar Yatra (all States/UTs of North-India) as well as major Melas and congregations” said the statement.
Union Health Secretary advised States/UTs to operationalise special workplace vaccination camps at big office complexes (public & private), industrial establishments, railway stations, inter-state bus stations, in schools and colleges etc.
The Ministry said in all such special vaccination camps, vaccination to be done mandatorily through CoWIN and vaccination certificate to be provided.
Highlighting that COVID vaccine is a precious national resource, states were also requested to assess and inform the centre about the requirement for the 75-day special drive as per the eligible population groups
“This would enable the Ministry to provide adequate doses to the States/UTs that need them. The principle of First Expiry, First Out shall continue to guide the COVID vaccination’ it said.
