Govt goes all out for 4th Covid-19 vaccination phase, takes these big steps

The central government has gone all out to make the fourth phase of coronavirus vaccination, which is going to start from June 21, a success. Consultations are being held with the states and union territories to open government vaccination centres.

New Delhi:

The central government has gone all out to make the fourth phase of coronavirus Vaccination, which is going to start from June 21, a success. 

Consultations are being held with the states and union territories to open government vaccination centres. At the same time, efforts are also being made to increase the participation and reach of the Private sector, which has received 25 percent of the vaccine. The central government will buy 75 percent of the dose and provide it to the states free of cost.

These arrangements have to be made

A senior health ministry official said that there is going to be a qualitative increase in the availability of the vaccine in the coming days. Due to this, more than double the dose of vaccine that has been administered in the last five months across the country will be administered in the next 49 days. 

Obviously, the number of vaccination centers will also have to be increased accordingly and at the same time arrangements will have to be made from cold chain to staff to deliver the vaccine to the vaccination centers.

These instructions were issued to state governments

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked the Principal Secretary Health of all the states and the Directors of National Health Mission to prepare for it. The states have also been told that it is necessary to ensure that the vaccine reaches the remote areas along with the population.

Promise to supply 12 crore doses

Presenting the vaccine availability data in the coming days, a senior health ministry official said Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute has promised to supply 120 million doses of the vaccine in June. 

However, only about three crore doses have been supplied in the last 11 days. Due to this, 3.33 crore doses have been administered at the rate of 30 lakh doses per day.

Vaccination figure may cross one crore

Now in the remaining 19 days of June, nine crore doses are to be supplied, due to which an average of 48 lakh doses can be given per day. At the same time, about 20 crore doses will be supplied in July. With this, an average of 65 lakh vaccines can be administered daily. 

40 thousand government vaccination centers established

According to the Health Ministry official, there are about 40 thousand government and only two thousand private vaccination centers at present. Their number will also have to be increased to give one crore doses daily. For this, states have been asked to develop schools, community halls, panchayat houses and other buildings as temporary vaccination centres.

Emphasis on increasing the number of private vaccination centers

The biggest thrust is on increasing the number of private immunization centres. The two thousand private immunization centers that are present now are mostly in big cities and are within reach of very few people. 

Obviously, ensuring the participation of private hospitals operating in small and medium towns in states like Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand will not only increase the number of private immunization centers, but also make it accessible to the general public. Will be within range.

Hospitals affiliated to health insurance scheme will be added

The official said that the above states have a large number of private hospitals affiliated under Ayushman Bharat, CGHS and other health insurance schemes. By adding these, the number of private vaccination centers can easily be increased to 25-30 thousand. 

The central government has assured such private hospitals of help in procuring the vaccine and asked the states to provide data on their vaccine requirement.