Centre Urges States To Start Covid-19 Vaccination For Frontline Workers From February

vaccination for frontline workers: The Union Health Ministry of India has ordered all states and union territories to start vaccinating their frontline workers from the first week of February.

The vaccination of all health workers which commenced on January 16 will be continued simultaneously. 

In a letter addressing the states and union territories, Manohar Agnani, the additional secretary of the health ministry stated that the database of frontline workers is being updated. This is being done by the country's state in coordination with other ministries. It is said that the Co-WIN portal has already uploaded the database of more than 61 lakh workers. 

The letter further elaborates on the number of vaccine doses that have been allotted to all the states and UTs. Both the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines will have to be made available for vaccinating the people. 

Lastly, the letter that the support of all the states and UTs is pre-requisite and will have a direct impact on the COVID-19 vaccination programme. 

Frontline Workers And People Above 50 Years of Age To Be Inoculated

The frontline workers of India stand second in line for getting the vaccine. Besides them, the government also plans to immunise people over the age of 50 years against the coronavirus. This will also include people who suffer from various ailments who are vulnerable to the virus. 

All these groups are estimated to contain about 30 crore people. The Indian government now plans on completing the entire vaccination drive in about 6-7 months. 

Over 28 lakh people have received their first vaccine dose against the coronavirus so far. The recovery rate of India stands at 96.94 per cent and is rising steadily.