The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to provide preventive doses of anti-Covid vaccine free of cost to people above the age of 18 at government immunization centers in the country. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur gave this information.
According to Anurag Thakur, for this, a special campaign of 75 days will be started from July 15. A proposal to this effect was approved under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This campaign will be run under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' on the occasion of 75 years of India's independence. Regarding this decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, 'Vaccination is an effective measure in the fight against Kovid-19. Today's decision of the cabinet will expand immunization in India and will help in building a healthy nation.
The Union Health Ministry last week reduced the interval between the second and precautionary dose of the Kovid vaccine for all from nine months to six months. This was done on the recommendation of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization. Regarding this decision, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, 'A 75-day free vaccination campaign will be conducted from July 15 under the Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi, in which all citizens above the age of 18 years will be given free precautionary measures at government centers. Dosage will be given.
A precautionary dose is to be given to 77 crore people in the age group of 18-59 years in the country. Of this, less than one percent have been given a precautionary dose so far. However, about 26 percent of the estimated 160 million eligible population aged 60 years and above as well as healthcare and frontline workers have received a booster dose.
According to officials, most people in the country received their second dose of covid vaccines about nine months ago. Studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other international research institutes suggest that the level of antibodies in a person's body decreases after about six months of taking both doses.
In such a situation, giving a booster or precautionary dose strengthens the immune system. So the government has decided to launch a special campaign for 75 days. Under this, people in the age group of 18 to 59 years will be given free precautionary doses at government centers. To speed up vaccination and encourage booster doses, the central government launched the second round of the Har Ghar Dastak campaign in states and union territories on June 1. This two-month campaign is still going on. According to government data, 96 percent of India's population has been given the first dose of the Covid vaccine, while 87 percent of people have taken both doses.
