Form of words:
New Delhi: Stating that the fight against COVID-19 is in the final stages, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday cautioned against letting go of the guard before it is completely over and asked states to increase vaccination coverage and 12 Requested to motivate more than crore beneficiaries, who are due. For their second dose to take it.
He also urged the States and Union Territories to ensure that the entire adult population is given the first dose during the ongoing ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign.
A health ministry statement said that during virtual interactions with health ministers of states and union territories, Mandaviya observed that the fight against COVID-19 is in the final stages.
“Two weapons of vaccination and CAB (COVID-19-appropriate treatment) will be our biggest defense against it and we should not let our guard down before it is completely over,” he said.
The Minister said that at present 79 per cent of the adult population has received the first dose of vaccine and 38 per cent have received the second dose as well.
“Let us collectively ensure through collective and multi-stakeholder efforts that no eligible citizen in the country remains without the ‘protection shield’ of the COVID-19 vaccine. Let us reach out to every nook and corner of the country and inspire people to take both the doses under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign.”
He emphasized that while vaccination reduces the severity of the disease, adhering to COVID-appropriate practices is of utmost importance to ensure that the gains made so far by the country collectively are not wasted and COVID- There is no other increase in 19 cases. , according to the statement.
The meeting also reviewed the public health measures for control and management of COVID-19 in the States and Union Territories.
Noting that more than 12 crore beneficiaries are due for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Mandaviya urged the state health ministers to ensure that they are motivated to take the second dose and that all adult population is door-to-door. During two to be covered with the first dose. According to the statement, a door-to-door campaign is going on for ‘Har Ghar Dastak’.
Underlining that children can be the best messengers for behavior change, he urged the states and union territories to involve them in taking forward the message of complete immunization. “Let children motivate their parents and other family members to take both doses of the vaccine,” he said.
Mandaviya reiterated Prime Minister Modi’s mop-up strategies to strengthen the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign, which would include deploying ‘Prachar Toli’ in advance in villages, which would conduct awareness campaigns as well as ‘Vaccination Toli’ ‘ will then ensure mobilization and counseling of the eligible population. ‘ which will ensure that all eligible citizens are vaccinated, the statement said.
Strategy of multiple immunization teams to ensure 100% coverage in targeted area in a time bound manner and development of a ranking mechanism to identify and compliment immunization teams that administer maximum number of doses every 24 hours So that inspired progress can be made. Mandaviya insisted on the drive, the statement said.
He also emphasized the use of weekly markets and haats to create awareness and provide vaccination services, to collaborate with local religious and community leaders, to motivate civil society organisations, NGOs etc. to take up vaccination in village/urban areas. Gave; Multi-media awareness campaign to effectively combat anti-vaccination rumours; and to emulate innovative approaches and practices adopted by high coverage districts.
“Let us introduce COVID vaccination centers at bus stations, railway stations etc, especially in big metros, as these are the primary points for a large number of people to enter the city. Some states have started ‘Roko and Toko’ campaigns, where passengers alighting from buses, trains, rickshaws etc. are motivated to take vaccine doses.”
He also suggested that each day of the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign could be dedicated for mobilization and vaccination of different groups of beneficiaries. One day may be devoted to traders, hawkers, vendors, shopkeepers etc., another day we may mobilize rickshaw-pullers and auto-drivers. One day may be dedicated to laborers and farmers,” he said.
The minister cautioned all the states and union territories that COVID-19 is not over.
“We should not think that Covid is over. Cases are increasing globally. Cases are on the rise again in Singapore, the UK, Russia and China, despite over 80 per cent vaccination. Vaccination and COVID-appropriate behavior should go hand in hand,” he stressed.
Health Minister Veena George (Kerala), Dhan Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand), Banna Gupta (Jharkhand), Lalthangliana (Mizoram), Mangal Pandey (Bihar), K Sudhakar (Karnataka), Rajesh Tope (Maharashtra), Prabhuram Choudhary (Madhya Pradesh) Jai Pratap Singh (Uttar Pradesh), Ma Subramaniam (Tamil Nadu), Vishwajit Rane (Goa), Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel (Gujarat), Keshab Mahanta (Assam) and Satyendra Jain (Delhi) were present in the meeting.
Principal Secretaries/Additional Chief Secretaries/Mission Directors (NHM) of all states were also present, the statement said.
According to the statement, the state health ministers expressed their gratitude to Mandaviya for the supply of vaccines, medicines, financial and technical resources for COVID-19 management.
He also shared the innovative steps being taken to ensure saturation of vaccinations especially in the low performing districts.
Mandaviya thanked all the states and union territories for their overwhelming support and urged them to emulate the best practices being followed by others, the statement said.
Read also: 96 countries have recognized India’s COVID vaccination certificates, says Mansukh Mandaviya
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