Daily News Capsule

In a meeting held on Thursday, PM Modi said, vaccination is a long-term and continuous process and directed all states to focus on aggressive testing and identifying containment zone to break the chain of covid-19 transmission of the second wave. 

He also appealed to the different states to achieve 100 % vaccination for the 45 plus population and called for a “vaccination Utsav” between the birth anniversaries of legends Jyotiba Phule and Dr. BR Ambedkar, that is between April 11 and 14. 

Related article: PM suggests “Tika Utsav” for covid-19 vaccination from 11th to 14th April 

“What we have done is that we jumped to vaccination (as a strategy) and have forgotten testing. As the vaccines are being produced, they will be delivered…earlier, we won the fight without the vaccine. We won the fight when we didn’t even know if there would be vaccines. Today, we don’t need to create a panic in the public,” the PM said during the online meeting with CMs. 

“From Day 1, I am seeing politics. I don’t open my mouth. I believe we have to serve the citizens. We have been given the responsibility. Those who are doing politics will do it. I will not comment. However, all of us should come forward to change the situation. We have to follow ‘dawai bhi-kadai bhi’ (cure and caution)… We have to focus on testing… Vaccination is a long-term and continuous process,” Modi said. 

The meeting held during the confrontation of the center and non-bjp ruled states over the availability of vaccines. As of Wednesday, the union health minister Dr harsh Vardhan pointed non- bjp ruled states, particularly Maharashtra and Chattisgarh and accuses them of “politicizing” the public issue and “spreading lies” and not taking enough actions in terms of testing, tracing.  

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh asked the center to vaccinate all adults “as early as possible” pointing out the surge in India, due to the UK variant. 

Chhattisgarh chief minister, Bhupesh Baghel, asked the center to provide a sufficient supply of oxygen cylinders and remdesivir, for setting up virology labs, and 1,000 bed ICU infrastructure, and accelerating vaccine supply. 

West Bengal chief minister who pointing the center for not providing, enough vaccine doses in her state, and in the middle of elections, did not attend the meeting. 

PM Narendra Modi, emphasized again, the vaccination strategy subjected to prioritizing susceptible populations. “In a single day, we have achieved vaccinating 40 lakh persons…The most resourceful countries also have set criteria for vaccination. We are not different from them. We are working towards achieving maximum manufacturing capacity. We have discussed vaccine development, vaccine stock, and wastage. You know about the number of vaccines that are manufactured; these factories are not established overnight. Whatever is available to us, we have to prioritize,” he said. 

Also read| vaccinate every Indian in the current need 

PM Modi is also concerned about the doses that should be supplied by keeping all states in mind. “To keep all the stock in one particular state is not the right thinking. We have to keep the entire country in mind and manage it. Also, an important aspect of Covid-19 management is vaccine wastage…it is my request to states to attempt 100 percent coverage of everyone above the age 45 years in the high focus districts,” he said. 

Also, the prime minister suggested “vaccination Utsav”. “We should run a special drive to vaccinate the maximum eligible beneficiaries and achieve zero wastage. If required, we can also increase the vaccination centers. I have also told the Centre to send as many doses as it is possible,” he said. 

In the context of youth vaccination, he said “…we want to strengthen the youth through vaccination, however, we should encourage them to follow protocols.”

As per the sources, Thackeray said, that the state has been following all directives and instructions given by the central government. “Despite this, some political parties are now contemplating on launching an agitation against the state government,” Thackeray said, not taking anyone’s name. 

In the Thursday meeting, Modi addressed the states to focus more on testing. “We have to bring down the positivity rate under 5 percent and our target is to achieve 70 percent RT PCR testing… We have to focus on aggressive testing in containment zones. Not a single person should be left out of testing in these zones,” he said 

The PM has also told the states to maintain data on mortality so as to know at which stage the people are hospitalized. 

Dr. harsh Vardhan posted, before the meeting: “Let’s put an end to fear mongering now! #COVID19Vaccine doses: Total administered: 9 cr+; In stock/nearing delivery to states: 4.3 cr+. Where does the question of shortages arise? We’re continuously monitoring & enhancing supply.”