More than 50 lakh Indians register for Covid-19 vaccine in third Phase

53,43,219 frontline workers have been administered the first dose of vaccine till now

In less than 48 hours, more than 50 lakh Indians have registered themselves on the Co-WIN 2.0 digital platform expressing their willingness to take the Covid-19 vaccine, health officials said on Tuesday.

The public responses, according to the officials, is an indication of vaccine hesitancy going down. Till Tuesday, nearly five lakh citizens including the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, have received the vaccine shots.

So far, nearly 27 lakh healthcare workers have taken both the doses whereas more than 67 lakh healthcare workers and 55 lakh front line workers got one dose. Also 828 frontline staff received both the doses.

Read more: Co-WIN snag halts vaccination drive for senior citizens in Goa

Asked about those who did not turn up for their second shot, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said vaccination is a voluntary exercise and those who had missed out, can take the second shot within six weeks.

Bhushan pointed out all private hospitals can be used for Covid-19 vaccination if they have adequate space and trained staff. Besides, there are no predetermined time slots fixed for administering the jabs as it has been left to the states and hospitals to draw up a vaccination timetable depending on a hospital’s capability.

“The states and union territories in consultation with private hospitals should open the vaccination slots for 15 days to a month and announce this as part of their vaccine time table,” the health ministry said in a statement.

Private hospitals not empanelled under any government medical insurance schemes have now been permitted to operate as Covid-19 vaccination centres if they have adequate number of vaccinators, space for observation of the vaccinated, cold chain arrangement and proper arrangement to take care of adverse reaction cases. It has been left to the state administration to screen the hospitals and enlist them.

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Every private vaccination centre should put in place effective crowd management protocols along with facilities for seating, water and proper signage. In addition, they should ensure adherence of Covid-appropriate behaviour among the citizen beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, rising Covid-19 numbers in a few states remain a matter of concern with Maharashtra and Kerala accounting for 75 per cent of active cases.

Asked for the reason behind such a rise, NITI Ayog member Vinod Paul said at least two states had blamed it on a spurt in wedding celebrations and parties. “The central teams have been sent to the states. Once they return, we will know more about the local causes,” he said.