Under a 75-day drive from July 15, free Covid precaution doses for the 18-59 age group at government vaccination centres. On Wednesday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur announced the initiative as a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
The objective of the drive is to increase the percentage of vaccinated populations. According to the sources, the government has vaccinated around 26% of the 16 crores suitable population. This stratum includes people above the age of 59 and frontline health workers.
However, the vaccination success rate for 18-59 is 1% out of the target population of 77 crores. Last week, the Union Health Ministry lowered the gap between the first and the second dose for all inheritors. On the advice of the National Technical Advisory Group On Immunization (NTAGI), the Heath Department reduced the gap from nine to six months.
On June 1, the government launched the second phase of the Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0 throughout states and UTs to speed up immunisation rates and promote booster doses. Currently, the two-month programme is in progress.
Around 96% of Indians have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination, and 87% have received both doses, shows the government statistics.
India started giving COVID-19 vaccine doses to all adults over 18 years on April 10, 2022. Additionally, the nationwide immunisation campaign began on January 16. The medical professionals were the first ones to receive the jab. Last year, the vaccination of frontline workers started on February 2.
For individuals over 60 years and those with certain comorbid diseases, who are 45 years of age or older, COVID-19 immunisation started on March 1, 2021.
On April 1, 2021, the government started vaccinations for everyone older than 45 years. Therefore, the government decided to broaden the scope of the immunisation campaign by enabling everyone above the age of 18 to receive the Covid vaccine starting on May 1, 2021.
On January 3, 2022, the Central government started free vaccinations for people between the ages of 15 and 18. On March 16, the nation also began immunising kids between 12 and 14 years of age.
Read More: Gujarat Reports 511 New Covid-19 Cases On Monday, Ahmedabad Registers 190
