Centre to roll out 75-day free precautionary Covid vaccine drive from July 15

The special drive is aimed at increasing the uptake of the precautionary dose of Covid vaccine among the eligible adult population (18 years and above).

According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Health, the programme will be implemented in a "mission mode" as a part of the celebration for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

To implement the drive, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has chaired a virtual meeting with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs and urged them to give an intensive and ambitious push towards full Covid-19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precaution dose.

During the meeting, the Union Health Secretary also highlighted that less percentage of precaution doses uptake among population groups aged 18 years & above (8%) and persons aged 60 years & above (27%) is a cause of concern.

The drive will continue till Sept 30. Those eligible for the precautionary dose include all above 18 years who have completed 6 months (or 26 weeks) from the date of administration of the seconnd dose.

States/UTs were urged to implement the Covid vaccination drive as a ‘Jan Abhiyaan’ with massive mass mobilization, through a camp approach.

"They were advised to organize special vaccination camps in the routes of Char Dham Yatra (Uttarakhand), Amarnath Yatra (Jammu &Kashmir), Kanwar Yatra (all States/UTs of North-India) as well as major Melas and congregations" said the statement.

Union Health Secretary advised States/UTs to operationalise special workplace vaccination camps at big office complexes (public & private), industrial establishments, railway stations, inter-state bus stations, schools and colleges etc.

The Ministry said in all such special vaccination camps, innoculation is to be done mandatorily through CoWIN app and a vaccination certificate is to be provided.

Highlighting that the Covid vaccine is a precious national resource, states were also requested to assess and inform the centre about the requirement for the 75-day special drive as per the eligible population groups

"This would enable the Ministry to provide adequate doses to the States/UTs that need them. The principle of First Expiry, First Out shall continue to guide the COVID vaccination" it said.