Delhi, Punjab and Maharashtra told to finish 1st phase of vaccinations

The health ministry has directed Delhi, Punjab and Maharashtra to complete the vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers who were included in the first phase of Covid-19 public immunisation drive.

Additional secretary (health) Manohar Agnani has written to the three states pointing out their vaccination coverage of healthcare and frontline workers is below the national average and needs to be improved.

Agnani has written, “This brings out the need for stepped efforts by the state/UT administration to improve the level of coverage, especially the second dose among the healthcare workers and frontline workers, as the primary objective of the vaccination is to protect the healthcare and pandemic response system, especially in the states having surge in Covid-19 cases. In addition, HCWs and FLWs represent a well-defined beneficiary group and therefore must be covered expeditiously.”