Guwahati: Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta started the COVID booster dose immunisation programme on Friday in support of the commemoration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The booster dose will be given without charge for those between the ages of 18 and 59.
The minister began the effort to administer booster doses of vaccinations at Azara primary health centre.
This particular vaccination campaign, which is a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav festival, seeks to give free precautionary shots to all individuals (18 years and older) who are eligible at Government COVID Vaccination Centers (CVCs).
States and UTs have been urged to give an intensive and ambitious push toward full COVID19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precaution dose. This was discussed in a virtual meeting on Thursday with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs, which was presided over by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.
It was mandated that states and UTs carry out the “COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava” for 75 days as “Jan Abhiyaan” with extensive mass mobilisation and a camp-style strategy. They were recommended to set up special vaccination clinics on the paths of the Char Dham Yatra (Uttarakhand), Amarnath Yatra (Jammu & Kashmir), Kanwar Yatra (all States/UTs of North India), as well as significant Melas and congregations.
The Union Health Secretary emphasised that it is concerning that fewer people (18 years of age and older) and those 60 years of age and older (27%) are taking preventative dosages.
The Center has announced a special campaign called “COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava” in order to deliver free prophylactic doses at all Government Covid Vaccination Centers for people aged 18 and above for 75 days from July 15 to September 30, 2022.