Target to inoculate 10 lakh in phase 2

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 2

The state will vaccinate 10 to 11 lakh people during phase 2 of the Covid vaccination drive, which will cater to citizens aged 60 years and above and those in the 45-59 age bracket having comorbidities.

The Union Ministry of Family and Health Welfare has identified 20 conditions that will make people eligible for vaccination in phase 2, subject to certification by a registered medical practitioner.

During a state steering committee meeting held on Tuesday, Secretary, Health, Amitabh Awasthi said all beneficiaries in these categories could get themselves registered and schedule their vaccination in any nearby centre through www.selfregistration.cowin.gov.in or IT applications such as Arogya Setu. He said the state planned to cover the target population for the first dose by April 16.

Awasthi said to facilitate the registration of specific age groups, help desks would be created in all panchayat offices across the state on every Monday. The target population could walk into their nearby panchayat office on every Monday from March 15 to April 12.

While sessions will be held thrice weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in medical colleges, district hospitals and district ayurveda hospitals, civil hospitals will be given slots twice on Tuesday and Friday. In addition, all these sites will run sessions on the first and third Sunday of March to cater to those beneficiaries who cannot get themselves vaccinated on week days.

From the second week of March, vaccination sessions will be started in all community health centres on Tuesday and Friday. Vaccination sessions will be held in all primary health centres on Tuesdays from the third week of March.

Chief Secretary Anil Khachi said the beneficiaries must carry their photo identity cards to the vaccination site.

23 Covid cases

• There was some respite from the surge in Covid cases on Tuesday as only 23 persons were found to be infected.
• However, no fatality due to the virus was reported in the past 24 hours.
• The highest number of 10 cases was reported in Kangra district.

IGyuto monastery becomes hot spot

The Gyuto Tantric Monastery, the establishment of the Central Tibetan Administration, has become a Covid hotspot in Kangra district. In the past few days, 154 out of 330 monks staying in the monastery have tested positive for the virus.