Page 41 - NIS English 16-28 Feb 2022

War Against COVID Health

NEW INDIA'S NEW RECORD COVAXIN, COVISHIELD WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE IN MARKET
Subject to certain conditions, the National Regulator,
Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), has approved
Both doses of the Covid The first dose of the the regular sale of two COVID-19 vaccines, Covaxin
vaccine were given to Covid vaccine has been and Covishield. This does not mean that the
76 % 96 % government's free vaccination campaign will be
administered to
discontinued; rather, it means that the government's

of the eligible vaccination campaign will continue as before, with
everyone receiving first and second doses and
population. of the people. seniors receiving preventive doses. Having the
More than
65 % 1.35 crore vaccine on the market will make it easier for those

who want to take a precautionary dose. They are now
of children in the age Health workers and able to do so in private clinics. To use this vaccine,
senior citizens will be
however, it will be necessary to follow the Ministry of
group of 15–17 got the protected from receiving Health's guidelines.
first dose of Covid. precautionary doses.
Figures as on 4th February 2022
THE INDIAN VACCINE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TWO NEW FEATURES ADDED TO THE CoWIN PORTAL
IN SAVING LIVES. Two new features have been added to the CoWIN
n Eight vaccines have been approved for emergency portal for the benefit of vaccine recipients and the
general public. With this feature, the names of six
use in the country.
n Three vaccines being made in India have also been people can now be registered from a single mobile
approved by the World Health Organization for use number, rather than just four. Previously, only four
in an emergency. people could register on this platform using a single
mobile number. At the same time, the beneficiary
will be able to request that the mistake regarding the
vaccine status in the certificate be corrected. This
service has been provided to correct vaccination data
entry errors made by vaccinators in a specific case.
Indeed, technological solutions such as the Arogya
Setu App for tracking COVID infections and the CoWIN
portal for vaccination are sources of pride in India.
CoWIN's online system, which includes everything
from slot booking to certificate distribution, has
who helped me get vaccinated. Children have also piqued the interest of major countries as well. We
demonstrated modern and scientific thinking in saw how India, following the vision of "One Earth,
India's vaccination programme. Today, children like One Nation," was saving millions of lives by providing
Sukhi and Ajay are protected by vaccines, and the essential medicines and vaccines to many countries
elderly are also protected by vaccines. during the time of Covid. India is now the world's
Till February 4, more than 168 crore vaccines third-largest producer of pharmaceuticals. The story
have been administered in the country, and India of India's vaccination programme is the story of the
has set a record by administering the first dose of country's one-of-a-kind journey.
vaccine to more than 96 percent of its population.
Simultaneously, 76% of those polled had taken
both doses. The third dose of the Covid Vaccine, REGULAR MEETINGS DURING THE THIRD WAVE OF COVID
known as the precautionary dose, is currently During the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,
being administered to healthcare workers, frontline Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health and Family
workers, and people over the age of 60 who are Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held frequent
already suffering from any other serious illness. India meetings to review public health preparedness and
is continously moving forward in this campaign under national COVID-19 vaccination progress. On January
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, with the 25, 2022, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya met with health
hard work and public participation of health workers. ministers, principal secretaries, additional chief

New India Samachar February 16-28, 2022 39