News Analysis India

Tag: Covid vaccination

  • Health Ministry not to procure fresh Covid vaccines; surrenders Rs 4,237 crore from vaccination budget 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government’s Covid vaccination programme is in its final leg with the Health Ministry deciding against procuring more vaccines as of now and surrendering Rs 4,237 crore, or nearly 85 per cent of the 2022-23 budget allocation for inoculation purposes, to the Finance Ministry.

    Official sources told PTI that more than 1.8 crore doses are still available with the governments at the Centre and in states and the stock is sufficient to continue the vaccination drive for around six months, given the low uptake of vaccines among people due to declining Covid case burden.

    Even if the government’s stock gets exhausted, Covid vaccines will be available in the market.

    “Any decision on whether to procure Covid vaccine doses through the government channel or get (fresh) budget allocations for the purpose after six months will depend on the coronavirus situation prevailing in the country at that time,” an official source told PTI.

    As part of the nationwide vaccination drive which began on January 16 last year, the Government of India has been supporting states and Union territories by providing them COVID-19 vaccines free of cost.

    Since the Covid cases have been low, a sense of complacency has grown among people and there has not been much demand for vaccines even though the government conducted a 75-day drive — ‘Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ — to administer booster doses to all adults free of cost.

    “Considering this and the vaccines in the stockpile nearing their expiry date, the decision has been taken not to procure any more vaccines for now. Also, the Union Health Ministry has surrendered to the Finance Ministry the balance of Rs 4,237.14 crore from its 2022-23 budget allocation of Rs 5,000 crore for inoculation purposes,” the source said. 

    The cumulative Covid vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 219.32 crore, according to provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday.

    Official sources said 98 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 92 per cent have been fully vaccinated. Besides, 83. 7 per cent of adolescents aged 15 to 18 years have been vaccinated with the first dose since the vaccination for this age group began on January 3, while 72 per cent have got both the first and second doses.

    In the age-group of 12-14 years, 87.3 per cent have been administered the first dose while 68.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

    Of the total eligible target population of 18 years and above, a little over 27 per cent have been administered precaution doses so far.

    The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. 

    Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year.

    The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 last year for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified comorbid conditions.

    Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began on April 1 last year.

    The government then decided to expand the ambit of the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 years to be inoculated against Covid from May 1 last year.

    Inoculation of adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years commenced on January 3.

    India began administering precaution doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10.

    The country began inoculating children aged 12-14 from March 16 and also removed the comorbidity clause making all people aged above 60 eligible for the precaution dose of Covid vaccine.

    India on April 10 began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years.

    The cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country crossed the 100-crore mark on October 21 last year and 150 crore on January 7 this year.

    The total doses administered in the country surpassed the 200-crore mark on July 17.

    NEW DELHI: The government’s Covid vaccination programme is in its final leg with the Health Ministry deciding against procuring more vaccines as of now and surrendering Rs 4,237 crore, or nearly 85 per cent of the 2022-23 budget allocation for inoculation purposes, to the Finance Ministry.

    Official sources told PTI that more than 1.8 crore doses are still available with the governments at the Centre and in states and the stock is sufficient to continue the vaccination drive for around six months, given the low uptake of vaccines among people due to declining Covid case burden.

    Even if the government’s stock gets exhausted, Covid vaccines will be available in the market.

    “Any decision on whether to procure Covid vaccine doses through the government channel or get (fresh) budget allocations for the purpose after six months will depend on the coronavirus situation prevailing in the country at that time,” an official source told PTI.

    As part of the nationwide vaccination drive which began on January 16 last year, the Government of India has been supporting states and Union territories by providing them COVID-19 vaccines free of cost.

    Since the Covid cases have been low, a sense of complacency has grown among people and there has not been much demand for vaccines even though the government conducted a 75-day drive — ‘Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ — to administer booster doses to all adults free of cost.

    “Considering this and the vaccines in the stockpile nearing their expiry date, the decision has been taken not to procure any more vaccines for now. Also, the Union Health Ministry has surrendered to the Finance Ministry the balance of Rs 4,237.14 crore from its 2022-23 budget allocation of Rs 5,000 crore for inoculation purposes,” the source said. 

    The cumulative Covid vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 219.32 crore, according to provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday.

    Official sources said 98 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 92 per cent have been fully vaccinated. Besides, 83. 7 per cent of adolescents aged 15 to 18 years have been vaccinated with the first dose since the vaccination for this age group began on January 3, while 72 per cent have got both the first and second doses.

    In the age-group of 12-14 years, 87.3 per cent have been administered the first dose while 68.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

    Of the total eligible target population of 18 years and above, a little over 27 per cent have been administered precaution doses so far.

    The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. 

    Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year.

    The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 last year for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified comorbid conditions.

    Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began on April 1 last year.

    The government then decided to expand the ambit of the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 years to be inoculated against Covid from May 1 last year.

    Inoculation of adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years commenced on January 3.

    India began administering precaution doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10.

    The country began inoculating children aged 12-14 from March 16 and also removed the comorbidity clause making all people aged above 60 eligible for the precaution dose of Covid vaccine.

    India on April 10 began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years.

    The cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country crossed the 100-crore mark on October 21 last year and 150 crore on January 7 this year.

    The total doses administered in the country surpassed the 200-crore mark on July 17.

  • Only 20 per cent of eligible people have taken COVID precaution dose, says data

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Only a fifth of the eligible people in India have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, with the lowest coverage in Meghalaya followed by states like Jharkhand, Nagaland, Punjab and Haryana, officials said on Tuesday.

    Around 12 per cent of the eligible 77 crore population in the age group of 18-59 years have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, they said.

    Besides, 35 per cent of the 16.80 crore population aged 60 years and above, healthcare and frontline workers have been administered the precaution dose.

    A total of 15.66 crore precaution doses have been given till now with 10.39 crore doses being administered since July 15 after the ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ was launched, official sources said.

    The precaution dose coverage among the 64,89,99,721 eligible population between 18-59 years was 8 per cent till July 14.

    Only eight per cent of eligible people aged above 18 years have taken the precaution dose in Meghalaya so far – the lowest in the country followed by Jharkhand and Nagaland at nine per cent each and Punjab and Haryana at 10 per cent each.

    In fact, the coverage is only about a third in the major states.

    Among UTs, Andaman and Nicobar islands lead the chart with 78 per cent followed by 59 per cent in Ladakh.

    The coverage is 21 per cent in Delhi.

    While UP has coverage of 22 per cent, a mere 13 per cent of the eligible population have taken the precaution dose in Maharashtra, official sources said.

    The coverage is 17 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 24 per cent in West Bengal, 13 per cent in Kerala, 14 per cent each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, 18 per cent in Karnataka, 32 per cent in Gujarat , 23 per cent in Bihar and 16 per cent in Assam, they said.

    Under the campaign which was launched on July 15, 9,28,598 special vaccination camps have been organised so far by all the states and UTs.

    This includes camps at railway stations (4,259), bus stations (9,183), airports (370), schools and colleges (1,16,675), on the way to religious places (3,522) and camps at other places (7,94,589), health ministry sources said.

    Since July 15, 10,16,78,376 doses of Covishield, 1,68,14,771 doses of Covaxin and 85,03,008 doses of Corbevax have been given .

    On July 15, the government launched a special 75-day special drive to administer precaution doses to all aged 18 years and above at government vaccination centres free of cost.

    The drive ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’, aimed at boosting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine precaution doses among the eligible population, is being held as part of the government’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.

    Officials said 98 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 92 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

    According to health ministry data, the total vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 212.37 crore on Tuesday with more than 18 lakh (18,08,856) doses being administered till 7 pm.

    NEW DELHI: Only a fifth of the eligible people in India have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, with the lowest coverage in Meghalaya followed by states like Jharkhand, Nagaland, Punjab and Haryana, officials said on Tuesday.

    Around 12 per cent of the eligible 77 crore population in the age group of 18-59 years have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, they said.

    Besides, 35 per cent of the 16.80 crore population aged 60 years and above, healthcare and frontline workers have been administered the precaution dose.

    A total of 15.66 crore precaution doses have been given till now with 10.39 crore doses being administered since July 15 after the ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’ was launched, official sources said.

    The precaution dose coverage among the 64,89,99,721 eligible population between 18-59 years was 8 per cent till July 14.

    Only eight per cent of eligible people aged above 18 years have taken the precaution dose in Meghalaya so far – the lowest in the country followed by Jharkhand and Nagaland at nine per cent each and Punjab and Haryana at 10 per cent each.

    In fact, the coverage is only about a third in the major states.

    Among UTs, Andaman and Nicobar islands lead the chart with 78 per cent followed by 59 per cent in Ladakh.

    The coverage is 21 per cent in Delhi.

    While UP has coverage of 22 per cent, a mere 13 per cent of the eligible population have taken the precaution dose in Maharashtra, official sources said.

    The coverage is 17 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 24 per cent in West Bengal, 13 per cent in Kerala, 14 per cent each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, 18 per cent in Karnataka, 32 per cent in Gujarat , 23 per cent in Bihar and 16 per cent in Assam, they said.

    Under the campaign which was launched on July 15, 9,28,598 special vaccination camps have been organised so far by all the states and UTs.

    This includes camps at railway stations (4,259), bus stations (9,183), airports (370), schools and colleges (1,16,675), on the way to religious places (3,522) and camps at other places (7,94,589), health ministry sources said.

    Since July 15, 10,16,78,376 doses of Covishield, 1,68,14,771 doses of Covaxin and 85,03,008 doses of Corbevax have been given .

    On July 15, the government launched a special 75-day special drive to administer precaution doses to all aged 18 years and above at government vaccination centres free of cost.

    The drive ‘COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava’, aimed at boosting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine precaution doses among the eligible population, is being held as part of the government’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.

    Officials said 98 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 92 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

    According to health ministry data, the total vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 212.37 crore on Tuesday with more than 18 lakh (18,08,856) doses being administered till 7 pm.

  • Whole nation is indebted to medical fraternity for services during pandemic: BJP Chief

    By Express News Service

    BJP national president JP Nadda after inspecting the vaccination centre at the Lady Harding hospital here on Wednesday said that the medical fraternity had waged a very decisive fight against the Corona pandemic saving humanity on a mission mode. “The whole nation is indebted to them for their services to humanity during the past two years when they served the people without caring for their own health and well-being. It is due to their hard work and dedication that India has battled Coronavirus so valiantly and successfully. We will never forget their sacrifices”, Nadda said.

    He said that India on July 17 crossed the historic 200 crores Covid vaccination mark as a big achievement for the country. He said that India has developed not one or two world-class ‘Made in India’ vaccines but also administered over 200 crore vaccine doses setting a world record.

    ” Now, India and its 130 crore citizens are covered from the threat of Corona pandemic due to massive pan-India vaccination drive. The world appreciated the planning, strategy and implementation of India’s fight against the Corona pandemic fought under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji”,d.

    Calling upon the BJP workers, Nadda said that every BJP worker should also ensure that the entire booster vaccination drive is carried out smoothly and people coming to the vaccination centres get all the facilities.

    He said no other country in the world has taken as much care of its citizens during the Corona pandemic as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took during the outbreak of the pandemic.

    “Our free vaccination programme was the world’s largest and fastest vaccination programme, and now the Narendra Modi government has made arrangements for free booster doses for all the citizens which no other country has done”, Nadda claimed.

    He also made an appeal to the party workers to visit all homes, carry out door-to-door campaigns and encourage people to get the booster vaccine dose. He also made a nationwide appeal that all citizens across the country to come forward and make this booster vaccination drive a massive success and strengthen  India’s fight against the Coronavirus.

    BJP national president JP Nadda after inspecting the vaccination centre at the Lady Harding hospital here on Wednesday said that the medical fraternity had waged a very decisive fight against the Corona pandemic saving humanity on a mission mode. “The whole nation is indebted to them for their services to humanity during the past two years when they served the people without caring for their own health and well-being. It is due to their hard work and dedication that India has battled Coronavirus so valiantly and successfully. We will never forget their sacrifices”, Nadda said.

    He said that India on July 17 crossed the historic 200 crores Covid vaccination mark as a big achievement for the country. He said that India has developed not one or two world-class ‘Made in India’ vaccines but also administered over 200 crore vaccine doses setting a world record.

    ” Now, India and its 130 crore citizens are covered from the threat of Corona pandemic due to massive pan-India vaccination drive. The world appreciated the planning, strategy and implementation of India’s fight against the Corona pandemic fought under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji”,d.

    Calling upon the BJP workers, Nadda said that every BJP worker should also ensure that the entire booster vaccination drive is carried out smoothly and people coming to the vaccination centres get all the facilities.

    He said no other country in the world has taken as much care of its citizens during the Corona pandemic as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took during the outbreak of the pandemic.

    “Our free vaccination programme was the world’s largest and fastest vaccination programme, and now the Narendra Modi government has made arrangements for free booster doses for all the citizens which no other country has done”, Nadda claimed.

    He also made an appeal to the party workers to visit all homes, carry out door-to-door campaigns and encourage people to get the booster vaccine dose. He also made a nationwide appeal that all citizens across the country to come forward and make this booster vaccination drive a massive success and strengthen  India’s fight against the Coronavirus.

  • MP: Unvaccinated 90-year-old woman dies of COVID-19 in Indore

    By PTI

    INDORE: A 90-year-old woman, who had not been inoculated against COVID-19, died of the infection at a hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, a health official said on Friday.

    The nonagenarian was suffering from high blood pressure and other ailments for a long time, said Dr B S Saitya, the chief medical and health officer (CMHO).

    “The woman was admitted to a hospital, where she tested positive for COVID-19.

    She died of the infection on Thursday,” the official said.

    The patient had not been able to walk for the last seven years and her family members did not get her vaccinated against the disease, he said.

    Earlier, an 80-year-old woman, who had taken both the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, succumbed to the infection on May 23.

    She was also suffering from high blood pressure and heart ailments for a long time, Dr Saitya said.

    As per the official bulletin, Indore had recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, that raised the tally to 2,08,132, which includes 1,463 casualties.

  • Centre flags slow pace of Covid vaccination in some states, announces campaign to raise uptake

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Concerned about the dip in Covid-19 vaccinations in some states, the Centre on Friday flagged the declining numbers in the last several weeks and announced that a two-month-long campaign will be launched beginning June to accelerate the vaccination coverage in the country.

    The door-to-door campaign ‘Har Ghar Dastak 2.0’ will cover the entire eligible population with first, second and even booster doses, according to the Union health ministry statement.

    The ministry pointed out that the uptake of booster doses among people aged 18-59 years is very poor, and Covid-19 vaccinations for the 12-14 age group have also not reached the desired pace yet.

    So far, nearly 192 crore Covid-19 vaccine shots have been administered. But less than 17 lakh people aged 18-59 years have opted for the booster doses since paid booster doses were started for all adults beginning April 10.

    Only about 1.3 crore children aged 12-14 years have been fully vaccinated yet.

    In a review meeting with states, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan also told the states that there was no need to ask for documentary proof of foreign travel for those seeking a booster dose for travelling abroad.

    The Centre had relaxed rules for those travelling abroad to receive their third or booster jabs as per the requirement of the country of the travel, provided they have completed three months since their second dose. For others, the gap of nine months between the second and the third jab remains.

    Bhushan also urged states to prevent Covid-19 vaccine wastage by using vaccine vials before expiry.

    The ‘Har Ghar Dastak 2.0’ campaign will also focus on nursing homes, schools and colleges, including out-of-school children, prisons and brick kilns.

    The states have been urged to undertake effective monitoring with micro-plans based on due lists of all eligible beneficiaries.

  • Decision on COVID vaccination for 5-15 age group to be taken as per experts’ recommendation: Mandaviya

    By PTI

    GANDHINAGAR: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday that the central government will roll out COVID-19 vaccination for children in the age group of 5 to 15 years as soon as it receives recommendation to that effect from a group of experts.

    Mandaviya told this to reporters here when he was asked about the government’s approach towards the vaccination for children in the age group of 5 to 15 years.

    He said the group of experts has so far not made any recommendation on the vaccination of this category.

    The minister was here to take part in a programme organised by the BJP on the Union Budget that was presented on February 1.

    “When to vaccinate and to which age group is decided on the basis of recommendation of a group of scientists. We had implemented its recommendation for the precaution group within one week. We will surely implement its recommendation (for 5 to 15 age group) as and when we receive it,” he said in a press conference.

    The country-wide COVID-19 vaccination of children in 15-18 age group began last month.

    “Today, vaccination is not an issue. We have enough vaccines, there is no shortage of doses. We will definitely follow the recommendation of the scientific community,” Mandaviya added.

    The government has so far not received any such recommendation, and a decision in this regard will be taken in the coming days on that basis.

    It is not a political decision.

    Sero survey and sero prevalence survey in July-August last year showed that 67 per cent children also developed anti-bodies, and children remained asymptomatic, he said.

    “Ultimately, these are biological things. Therefore, scientists study before making recommendations. Earlier we used to follow the world (for recommendations regarding vaccination). Today, our scientists conduct their own analysis, they have their own study, and make opinions based on this,” he said.

    He also said that India used vaccination very effectively to fight the pandemic during its third wave.

    Large-scale vaccination helped India counter the third wave, as attested by top institutes across the world and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the minister added.

    He said 75 per cent of children (15-18 age group) have received their COVID-19 vaccination doses and 96 per cent adults have received the first dose, while 77 per cent have got both the doses.

    The ICMR studies showed that COVID-19 vaccination has helped most of the people, and as a result, the country is moving towards the flattening of the curve, he said, adding, “On the basis of all this, I can certainly say that India has been able to use vaccination very effectively to fight against COVID-19 crisis,” he said.

    He said the government’s emphasis on vaccination during the lockdown in 2020, soon after the outbreak of the virus, helped India sustain its growth and not suffer from high inflation and negative growth like what is seen in the US and Europe.

    Mandaviya said that research on vaccination was taken on priority basis and the government offered funds for it, and by January 16 last year, India’s indigenously-manufactured vaccine was launched along the same time the vaccines developed in other counties.

    “India offered vaccination to the world, and even started manufacturing it at a fast pace. The result was that by the time the third wave (of COVID-19 pandemic) came, we had moved ahead of the world in vaccination. We were saved in the third wave, because India completed 96 per cent of the first dose,” he said.

    Talking on the Union Budget, Mandaviya said it will usher in a golden age for India.

    “I believe its implementation will increase the pace of comprehensive and time-bound development in the right direction,” he said.

  • Over 171 crore COVID doses administered in India; more than one crore youngsters fully vaccinated

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 171 crore on Wednesday, the Union Health Ministry said.

    More than 44 lakh (44,08,918) vaccine doses were administered till 7 pm on Wednesday.

    More than 1.60 crore (1,60,95,273) precaution doses have been administered so far to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities.

    The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night.

    In a landmark achievement, more than 1 crore youngsters between the age group of 15 to 18 years have been successfully administered with both the doses of the vaccine.

    Expressing his pleasure, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted that it is a historic feat by young India that over 1 crore youngsters between 15 to 18 years age group have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

    The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase.

    Th vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2 last year.

    The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 last year for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

    The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1, 2021.

    The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1, 2021.

    The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination has commenced from January 3 this year for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years.

    India began administering precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers, frontline workers, including personnel deployed for election duty and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities, from January 10 amid the country witnessing a spike in coronavirus infections fuelled by Omicron variant.

    Over one crore adolescents in the 15-18 years age group nationwide are now fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus infection, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday.

    Over 5.04 crore beneficiaries in this age group have been administered the first dose of vaccine.

    “What a historic feat by Young India! Over 1 crore youngsters between 15-18 age group are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” Mandaviya tweeted.

    With the administration of more than 53.61 lakh vaccine doses in a span of 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 170.87 crore (1,70,87,06,705), according to provisional reports till 7 am.

    As per the Registrar General of India (RGI), the estimated population of beneficiaries in the age group of 15-18 years is 7.4 crore for 2021-22.

    Vaccination of children in the age group of 15-18 years began from January 3 across the country.

  • COVID-19: Indore administration to withhold salaries of staffers skipping precaution dose

    By PTI

    INDORE: Authorities in Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Monday said next month’s salaries of some 20,000 government staffers in the district will be withheld if they don’t take the coronavirus vaccine’s precaution or booster dose.

    Frontline staff, health care workers etc will be paid next month’s wages only if they take the third shot of the vaccine, and treasury officials have been intimated about the decision, Indore Collector Manish Singh said.

    The order covers those who have not taken the third shot even after the stipulated period, he added.

    Indore is the worst coronavirus hit district in the state, with the caseload standing at 1,86,216, including 1,409 deaths.

    The COVID-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh reached 9,04,744 on Monday after the detection of 10,585 new cases, while the toll increased to 10,576 with six patients succumbing to the infection in the last 24 hours, an official said.

    The positivity rate reduced to 13.0 per cent on Monday from 13.4 per cent on Sunday, he pointed out.

    The recovery count stood at 8,24,275 after 7,822 people were discharged from hospitals during the day, leaving the state with 69,893 active cases, he said.

    Indore and Bhopal, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 2,665 and 2,128 cases, respectively, in the last 24 hours, he said.

    With 80,967 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,53,94,972, the official added.

    A government release said 10,87,44,479 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 1,27,907 on Monday.

    Coronavirus figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 9,04,744, new cases 10,585, death toll 10576, recoveries 8,24,275, active cases 69,893, number of tests so far 2,53,94,972.

  • Officials working overtime to meet Covid vaccination target before UP polls

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Facing the daunting task of holding a Covid-safe election in Uttar Pradesh, officials are working overtime to achieve the target of fully vaccinating at least 90 per cent of the eligible population before the first phase polling on February 10.

    The state election office intends to ensure 100 per cent inoculation of officials and security personnel to be deployed for the seven-phase polls in the state ending on March 7.

    The results will be declared on March 10 along with other four poll-bound states — Punjab, Uttrakhand, Goa and Manipur.

    Entrusted with the big responsibility, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holds a review meeting on the coronavirus situation daily and gives necessary instructions on testing and vaccination.

    “We are aiming to ensure the eligible population gets at least one dose by January 25,” Additional Chief Secretary Navneet Sehgal told PTI-Bhasha.

    So far 63 per cent of the targeted population has received two doses of vaccine and the effort is to scale it up to at least 90 per cent by the time the state witnesses the first round of voting on February 10, said Sehgal, who is also the nodal officer on COVID-19 in the state.

    The officer said around 97 per cent of the 18-plus population has got their first dose of the vaccine by now.

    On an average 25 lakh people are administered vaccine daily as part of a speed-up inoculation drive.

    Adityanath has asked officials to increase it to 30 lakh a day.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Ajay Kumar Shukla told PTI-Bhasha that more than 7.5 lakh officials would be deployed on poll duty and efforts are on to fully vaccinate them beforehand.

    Immediately after declaration of the voting schedule, all the district magistrates and superintendents of police were directed to ensure that those put on election duty are fully inoculated, Shukla said.

    “No official will be put on election duty without them receiving both doses of jab. Treated as frontline Covid workers, they are also being given the additional precautionary dose of vaccine,” he said.

    Those on poll duty would have to undergo thermal scanning before they set out for the work and if any health problem is spotted they would be taken off duty.

    There would be sufficient arrangement of masks and sanitiser for them at the polling centres, Shukla said.

    The state’s poll panel head said all the polling booths would be totally sanitised beforehand and COVID-19 protocol would be adhered to strictly.

    By January 8, around 88.98 per cent of the population had received the first dose and 52.71 per cent got both doses in Uttar Pradesh.

    The state has since expedited the vaccination exercise and the number of inoculated population is increasing fast, according to state health department sources.

    According to the state government’s latest statement, 2.41 lakh COVID-19 testing was conducted in the last 24 hour, out of which 16,412 were found positive.

    During the period, 17,600 infected people recovered.

    Currently, Uttar Pradesh has 95,866 active cases.

    More than 70.52 lakh citizens in the 15-17 age bracket have been inoculated so far, the statement said.

    Over 50 per cent of the population in this new target group has been administered a dose.

    Uttar Pradesh on Friday reported 22 coronavirus deaths as 16,142 fresh cases surfaced, pushing the state’s infection count to 19,16,616, according to a government statement.

    So far, 23,022 people have died from the infection in the state.

    Of the fresh deaths, two each were reported from Lucknow, Meerut, Lakhimpur Kheri, Chandauli and Ballia, the statement issued here on Friday said.

    In the past 24 hours, 17,600 recovered from the disease, taking the total number of patients cured so far to 17,977,28.

    The count of active COVID-19 cases in the state stands at 95,866, the statement said.

    In the past 24 hours, more than 2.41 lakh samples were tested for COVID-19, the statement said.

  • Decision on vaccinating 12-14 year olds to be based on scientific evidence, deliberations on: Government

    NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said if someone is infected with COVID-19 then after 3 months they can take a second or precaution dose.