BEGINNING OF PRECAUTIONARY VACCINATION DRIVE IN INDIA

(The Quiver)Today, India is starting administering the precautionary dose of the vaccine to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years of age with comorbidities.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry said there is no need for new registration and those who have taken two doses of the vaccine can directly take an appointment or walk-in to any COVID-19 Vaccination Centre.

All the beneficiaries will be vaccinated with covaxin as cleared by the Union Health Ministry. “Precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine as has been given previously. Those who have received Covaxin will receive Covaxin, those who have received primary two doses of Covishield will receive Covishield,” said Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog during media briefing of Union Health Ministry.

India on Monday reported 1,79,723 new covid-19 cases, up by 13% from yesterday, while the active cases rose to 7,23,619 according to the Union health ministry data.

There are 4,003 Omicron cases in India with 23 states reporting the new Covid-19 strain. Maharashtra and Delhi continuing to be the worst affected states. Maharashtra is reported with 1,216 cases followed by the report of Delhi with 569 infections.

The active cases of the country comprise 2.03 percent of the total infections, while national Covid-19 recovery rate is at 96.62 percent as reported by the health ministry of India.

Hope with the starting of precautionary vaccination drive will provide India with a covid-19 proof outfit and thus reducing the active cases and the infection rates.