New Delhi: Noting that the decision on the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for all adults will be taken based on scientific need, the government on Thursday said emerging knowledge on the subject is under its active consideration.
Responding to a question at a weekly press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul said all decisions on precaution doses are taken first and foremost based on need.
The scientific need is the first part that drives it, then other considerations — programmatic and epidemiological. Just because anyone else is doing it, they have their own context, we have our own context and all this is under constant scientific scrutiny and decision-making, he said.
Dr Paul said additional need for vaccination and inclusion of population for vaccination is examined constantly. “We also look at developments in the world and keep analysing and all options of vaccination are under active consideration and as decisions are taken, it would be announced,” he said.
Also Read: Omicron Is Dominant Covid Variant In India, Says Health Minister
Responding to a question on vaccination coverage, Joint Secretary at the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said though there is variation in coverage of vaccination between different age groups, but collectively the vaccination pace is still good in the country.
In October last year, an average 77.55 lakh doses were given every day. In November, about 59.32 lakh doses were given. In December, the number was 61.91 lakh and in January, it was 69.49 lakh and in the last nine days, approximately 51 lakh doses were given on an average every day. But with 96 per cent first dose coverage and 78 per cent second dose coverage, the available number of people who need to get vaccinated reduces a bit, he said.
If we look today, we are giving 51 lakh doses on an average every day and we urge you to bring awareness among those in young adolescents who have not yet taken vaccination, he added.
Also Read: WHO Uses Wordle To Warn People About The COVID-19 Disease Caused By Omicron
On re-infection cases during the third wave, ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said infection with one variant does not provide protection from the other variant so as variants have emerged, re-infection has been seen.
However, we have seen that the use of vaccination prevents severe disease and hospitalisation and death, and COVID appropriate behaviour is useful to prevent it. The biological aspects play a role from individual to individual, he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
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