NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday has directed the States and the Union Territories to identify low vaccine-coverage pockets, particularly in districts reporting a surge in new infections, and take corrective action. This comes ahead of the expansion of the vaccination drive in the country that will be rolled out tomorrow (April 1).
As per the new rules people who are 45 and above without any illness will be inoculated.
The decision was taken following a high-level meeting between the National Health Authority (NHA) CEO and Empowered Group on COVID Vaccination chairperson Dr R S Sharma and Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan with the Health Secretaries, mission directors of NHM and immunisation officers of all States and UTs.
The meeting reviewed the status and pace of the inoculation drive across the country as the country prepares to extend its vaccine cover from tomorrow to people over 45 years of age.
"A key theme underlying the meet was the identification of low vaccine coverage pockets particularly in districts showing COVID-19 surge and for taking corrective actions there," a statement issued after the meeting said.
In regard to the vaccination drive of healthcare workers and frontline workers, the States and UTS were advised to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries were vaccinated under the respective categories.
It further advised to identify pockets of low vaccination coverage including health facility, professional association, blocks, districts and take corrective action and ensure that these groups are vaccinated on a priority basis.
Moreover, the States and UTs were also asked to conduct regular reviews of capacity utilisation at private COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs).
The State and UTs were advised to avoid overstocking or under-stocking of vaccine stocks at cold chain points and CVCs. They were asked to conduct regular reviews of vaccine stocks and consumption to identify gap areas and address the same. Apart from this, they were also advised to maintain vaccine wastage at less than 1% (current National Wastage Percentage being 6%).
In order to avoid the expiry of vaccines, they were instructed to ensure timely utilization of available stock and update the vaccine consumption data on Co-WIN and eVIN portals.
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