Stop registering healthcare, frontline workers for COVID-19 vaccine: Centre
What's the story
The central government on Saturday asked states to halt new registrations for COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare and frontline workers. The move would allow the vaccine shots to reach other groups that need to be vaccinated, the Centre said, noting that healthcare and frontline workers—the first group to have access to the vaccine—have had enough time to get vaccinated. Here are more details.
Details
Ineligible beneficiaries found getting vaccinated: Health Ministry
In an order, the Union Health Ministry said that some ineligible beneficiaries in the categories of healthcare and frontline workers were found adding their names and getting vaccinated in violation of guidelines. The Centre has asked states to stop new vaccination registrations under these two categories and to quickly vaccinate those healthcare and frontline workers who have already registered themselves.
Quote
'Timeline for health/frontline workers extended multiple times'
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in the order, "The timeline for completing vaccination of all HCWs (healthcare workers) and FLWs (frontline workers) with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine has been extended multiple times and was elapsed since these timelines and even after starting vaccination of population above 60 years, provision was made to vaccinate HCWs/FLWs with a view to ensure optimum coverage."
Quote
24% increase in HCW database in past few days: Centre
Bhushan said, "Various inputs have been received from different sources that in some of the CVCs (COVID Vaccination Centers), some ineligible beneficiaries are being registered as HCWs/FLWs and are getting vaccinated in complete violation of the prescribed guidelines." "There has been 24% increase in HCW database in the past few days. This issue was discussed with state representatives and domain knowledge experts," he added.
Vaccination drive
India launched its vaccination drive on January 16
India had launched the first phase of its vaccination drive on January 16 with an aim to inoculate three crore healthcare/frontline workers for free. Starting March 1, the second phase was launched to inoculate those who are above 60 years of age or are above 45 years with co-morbidities. After April 1, all those aged over 45—even those without co-morbidities—were allowed to be vaccinated.
Statistics
India adds 93K+ new cases over single day
As of Sunday morning, 7,30,54,295 vaccine doses have been administered across India, the Health Ministry's data showed. Meanwhile, the Ministry reported a total of 12,485,509 COVID-19 cases in India, adding 93,249 fresh cases in the past 24 hours. The death toll rose to 1,64,623 with 513 fresh fatalities. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 11,629,289 people have recovered and only 6,91,597 infections are active.