NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Health on Thursday released a fact sheet on measures taken to reach the vulnerable population, recalling that all citizens, regardless of their income, are entitled to free vaccinations from the Indian government and that those who can afford to pay are encouraged to use vaccination centers in private hospitals.
People are also encouraged to financially support the vaccination of economically weaker sections in private Covid vaccination centers (CVCs) for which non-transferable electronic vouchers are in preparation.
The Ministry of Health, in a statement, justified the need for a fact sheet to dispel myths and release details citing that there have been media reports alleging that India’s vaccine strategy “neglects the elderly and vulnerable”, further asserting that the policy “favors the rich”.
The government has said India’s “National Covid Vaccination Program” is based on scientific and epidemiological evidence, WHO guidelines and global best practices. He specified that the Covid vaccination program gives priority to strengthening the country’s health system by protecting the professionals, health and frontline workers who make it up, as well as by protecting the most vulnerable population groups. vulnerable.
“This approach has yielded positive results achieving over 87.4% 1st dose coverage among registered healthcare workers and approximately 90.8% 1st dose coverage among registered frontline workers, protecting thus this cohort which is involved in providing health services, surveillance and containment activities in the midst of the 2nd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, â€he said.
So far, the drive has covered 45.1% of people aged 45 and over with the first dose of vaccination. “With a large cohort to deal with age groups 60 and over and people aged 45 to 59 with co-morbidities, coverage of over 49.35% of the population aged 60 and over with a single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine was achieved in the vaccination campaign, â€he said.
To reach vulnerable sections, guidelines were shared for a community-based, flexible and people-centered approach.
People are also encouraged to financially support the vaccination of economically weaker sections in private Covid vaccination centers (CVCs) for which non-transferable electronic vouchers are in preparation.
The Ministry of Health, in a statement, justified the need for a fact sheet to dispel myths and release details citing that there have been media reports alleging that India’s vaccine strategy “neglects the elderly and vulnerable”, further asserting that the policy “favors the rich”.
The government has said India’s “National Covid Vaccination Program” is based on scientific and epidemiological evidence, WHO guidelines and global best practices. He specified that the Covid vaccination program gives priority to strengthening the country’s health system by protecting the professionals, health and frontline workers who make it up, as well as by protecting the most vulnerable population groups. vulnerable.
“This approach has yielded positive results achieving over 87.4% 1st dose coverage among registered healthcare workers and approximately 90.8% 1st dose coverage among registered frontline workers, protecting thus this cohort which is involved in providing health services, surveillance and containment activities in the midst of the 2nd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, â€he said.
So far, the drive has covered 45.1% of people aged 45 and over with the first dose of vaccination. “With a large cohort to deal with age groups 60 and over and people aged 45 to 59 with co-morbidities, coverage of over 49.35% of the population aged 60 and over with a single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine was achieved in the vaccination campaign, â€he said.
To reach vulnerable sections, guidelines were shared for a community-based, flexible and people-centered approach.
