AP Govt To Speed Up COVID Vaccine Drive Over Second Wave Fears

AMARAVATI: The State Government had decided to speed up the COVID-19 vaccination drive targeting to complete vaccination for one crore population in the next 4-5 weeks.

During the review meeting held on Covid-19 Vaccination Plan at the camp office here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister directed the officials to start the vaccination process in urban areas from March 29 (Monday) as civic polls were over and similarly take up as a pilot project in rural areas limiting to two villages per day in each mandal by working four days a week.

Interacting with officials, the Chief Minister said that there are only six days left in the election process of MPTC and ZPTC polls and if the elections wind up, the focus can be laid on vaccination. He said it was quite uncertain when the polls would be over and it's leaving the workforce in a dilemma. He said that it is causing a lot of anguish. He said to expedite the vaccination process and take up like a yagna to save people’s lives.

The Chief Minister instructed the officials to carry out the vaccination drive in the villages as a full-fledged activity involving Village, Ward Secretariats, Volunteers, Asha Workers, and Health Workers. He suggested the officials take up awareness campaigns ensuring that all the people are getting vaccinated without any fear.

The Chief Minister also emphasized on Village Doctor Concept and directed the authorities to implement it at the earliest possible. He ordered the authorities to make sure there is no shortage of doctors in PHCs, where each mandal should have two PHCs, each PHC should have two physicians. Similarly, each mandal should have two 104 vehicles with one doctor in each vehicle, he said and added that there should be six doctors in every mandal visiting every village thrice every month.

He said to hire the doctors as per the requirement and directed the financial department officials not to be negligent in disbursing the required funds. The officials said 3.97 lakh health and frontline workers, 59.08 lakh people who are either over the age of 60 or above 45 with comorbidity are yet to be vaccinated. They said the Central government has decided to provide the vaccine to all those over the age of 45 from April 1.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to make all necessary arrangements to expedite the process and complete vaccination for one crore population. In regard to this, he told the officials to carry out vaccinations by selecting two villages each day and covering eight villages per week across the State. He also said to keep the shortcomings in view and effectively conduct the vaccination drive. He asked the officials to aim for vaccinating one crore people in four weeks covering 25 lakh population each week.

The Chief Minister said COVID tests should be conducted through RT PCR method and all existing facilities to treat COVID -19 patients should be continued. He said the medical services to the people who call 104, should be effective. The officials said 5,000 beds are ready at present and additional beds will be made available as per the requirements and added that focus is laid on regions where cases were on rise. They said the number of cases in schools is very less compared to the rest and added that if students are tested positive in any school, it is  being closed for three days and will open only after all the students are tested.

Deputy Chief Minister (Medical &Health) Alla Krishna Srinivas (Nani), Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister Nilam Sawhney, Health Principal Secretary Anil Kumar Singhal, Principal Secretary of the Department of Medicine and Health (COVID Management, Vaccination) Muddada Ravichandra, Health Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar and other officials were present.