Gandhinagar: Health minister of Gujarat, Rushikesh Patel today in a briefing to media persons said that 35 lakh children in 15-18 age group are identified and they will be administered one dose of covaxin vaccine against covid-19 in a mega drive that will be effective during 3rd to 9th of January. He said the health teams will administer these vaccine doses at schools and other premises.

The minister said that the students who don’t go to school will be administered vaccines on 8-9 January for which online registration on cowin portal will start from 1st and 3rd January.

The minister said, health workers, frontline workers and 60 plus comorbid people will be administered precaution dose from January 10. Those above 60 and comorbid can take vaccine as per the advise of their doctors, for which they will not require to produce any medical certificate. There are 6.24 lakh health workers, 13.44 lakh frontline workers and about 14.24 lakh 60+ age persons – in total 33 lakh persons for precaution dose. Those who have completed 9 months (39 weeks) after the second dose will be given precaution dose. A note regarding precaution dose will be made in covid vaccination certificate available through cowin portal. Eligible persons will be informed via SMS also for precaution dose.

Patel said the State is ready if third wave of covid comes. The State has 7,827 ventilator attached beds, 16,032 ICCU beds, 55,284 oxygen supply attached beds, in total 1.10 lakh beds. He said there will be no issue to address these many cases if third wave strikes.

Patel said the final target figure to cover all those 18+ and eligible for vaccination with both doses is 9.86 crore. 90 lakh doses are yet to be administered and government is giving its best attempt to complete this task. Thanks to good vaccination coverage, severity is very low and mortality ratio is very less at present compared to the number of cases. He said over 4.86 lakh (94.9%) have been given first dose and 85.6% are given second dose. Over 8.90 crore doses are administered across the State.  Gujarat is in leading position with 9,02,746 doses administered per million population.

Patel said over 18 lakh covid tests were done during 1st December to 30th December period across the State that covers RTPCR tests. Positivity ratio has been found to be 0.79 per cent against central government’s guideline of 10 per cent.

The minister said that existing Standard Operating Protocols (guideline, restrictions and relaxations) effective till 31st of December are extended to January 7th. He said double dose vaccination against covid is mandatory to visit any government officer for all visitors. DeshGujarat