The Centre on Friday announced ‘vaccination at home’ for the disabled, ‘in line with Covid-19 SOPs’. This came a month after Maharashtra government began its pilot project of door-to-door vaccination for bed-ridden and immobile people in Mumbai.
“I am pleased to inform that an advisory has been issued to make arrangements for ‘vaccination at home’ for those who have disabilities or are differently challenged, in line with Covid SOPs,” NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul said, as the panel warned that the second wave is not over yet.
The Centre on Thursday said 66 per cent of the country’s adult population has been administered at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 23 per cent has received both the doses. Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said 63.7 per cent vaccine doses have been administered in rural areas and 35.4 per cent in urban areas.
According to the data shared, the average daily doses administered in a month has increased from 19.69 lakh in May to 39.89 lakh in June, then further to 43.41 lakh in July and to 59.19 lakh in August. The average daily vaccination in September so far has been 81.60 lakh per day, the health secretary said, adding that nearly 18 crore doses have been administered in 22 days of September.
Here are Top 10 Quotes from the Health Ministry’s Briefing:
- “About 2/3rd of the adult population vaccinated with one dose – 66% of 18+ age group received at least one dose, almost a quarter of adult population have received both doses, it’s an important milestone,” Dr Paul said.
- “Mass gatherings during festivities need to be avoided,” said Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research. The ministry asked for mass gatherings to be avoided in areas identified as containment zones and in districts reporting more than 5% case positivity.
- “Covaxin pediatric dose results in final stages. Results will be out soon,” said Dr Bhargava. Bharat Biotech said on September 21 that it completed the phase 2/3 trials of Covaxin for use in children under 18 years of age and is expected to submit the data by next week.
- On UK’s vaccine rules for India, Bhushan said, “We believe that dispensation that is proposed to be implemented by 4 October is discriminatory.” He said that the government is hopeful for resolution as both sides are in talks.
- “We can reciprocate adequately,” cautioned Bhushan on UK’s vaccine certificate rules. The government had previously warned of reciprocal measures when the UK revised its travel guidelines, which required Indian travelers to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival despite being fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to India said in a tweet that he had “excellent” technical discussions National Health Authority CEO R S Sharma, whose company operates the CoWIN app. He also said that no technical concerns were raised with each other’s certification process.
- The ministry recommended that relaxations and restrictions can be imposed based on weekly case positivity. The states have been asked to allow gatherings with advance permissions and limited people (as per the state’s cap) to be allowed in districts with a positivity rate of 5% and below.
- The ministry said that a detailed SOP has been issued by the centre to states and UTs regarding precautions to be taken during festive season.
- 33 districts in the country have over 10% test positivity rate, according to data presented by the ministry.
- Weekly positivity rate is less than 3% for the 12th consecutive week, said the ministry.
- Six states and UTs – Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshwadeep have vaccinated 100% of their population with one dose. Meanwhile, Kerala, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Dadar & Nagar Haveli have vaccinated over 90% of adult population with one vaccine dose, according to the ministry.
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