In Assam 3 lakh people will be vaccinated daily from Monday: CM
From Sandeep Sharma
GUWAHATI: Assam government has set a target of administering Covid-19 vaccines to 3 lakh people daily from Monday for the next 10 days. The Centre has decided to provide free vaccinations to everybody above 18 years of age from June 21 onwards.
“If we can meet the target of inoculating at least 2.80 lakh to 3 lakh people daily for the next 10 days, the central government will ensure that we continue to get more vaccines in July as well,” chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters here on Saturday.
The chief minister took a detailed review of the preparedness made by the district administrations in view of the enhanced vaccination campaign in the state.
Taking stock of the preparedness of the vaccination campaign through video conference with the DCs, SPs, joint directors of health services and other stakeholders, Sarma said that in view of the enhanced vaccination programme under which three lakh people in the state will receive vaccine doses every day, the district administrations should ramp up the matching infrastructure to make the campaign a success.
Sarma said that more than 50 lakh people in the state have already taken Covid-19 shots, and if another 90 lakh can be covered in the next one month, half of Assam’s population will be vaccinated.
“If we can do this, Covid restrictions can be lifted,”Sarma said.
According to an official bulletin of National Health Mission (NHM), a total of 52,06,174 doses of vaccines have been administered in the state. This includes 41,75,652 first doses and 10,30,522 second doses.
The number of daily vaccinations has been increasing in the last three days across the state. On Wednesday, 45,703 people got the jabs, followed by 91,670 on Thursday and 1,17,570 on Friday, the NHM said.
Giving details about the inoculation drive, Sarma said vaccination centres will work in a 12-hour shift from 8 am daily in urban areas, and in a single shift from 8 am to 2 pm in rural places.
“Every village, tea garden will have vaccination centres, which will be set up in schools, colleges and Namghars (worship places for Vaishnavites). We have prepared 2,000 such facilities.
“Though the online registration process will go on, walk-in vaccination will also be allowed at all centres. From now, everyone will be in the 18 years and above segment,” he said.
Sarma said there will be no government work over the next one week and the entire machinery will be involved in the inoculation exercise.
“This is a part of our Enhanced Immunisation Drive. From June 21, we shall be targeting three lakh vaccinations daily till June 30,” he said after reviewing preparations with all stakeholders,” Sarma said.
The chief minister announced that government offices will reopen from July 1, and asked employees to get vaccinated within this month.
He also urged employees of private enterprises to get their jabs, as the state government is likely to allow such offices to operate till around 5 pm from next month.
Sarma said all workers of the BJP and its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) have been asked to take up the role of volunteers, and bring people to vaccination centres.
“I also request workers of other political parties and social organisations to motivate people (for inoculation),” he added.
Asked about shortage of vaccines, he said due to hesitancy in the initial period, doses meant for Assam were routed to states like Kerala and Maharashtra.
“The union health secretary has informed that Assam will receive three lakh vaccine doses for its daily quota during the trial period till June 30. If we can meet the target, our quota could be further increased in July,” he added.
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