IT News
Imphal, June 19:
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has directed all states and union territories in the country to let the public known the total stock of covid-19 vaccines in their respective states.
“Information regarding the availability of vaccine doses should be proactively put in the public domain to maximize the advance visibility and the conveniences of the citizens”, a letter written by Dr. Manohar Agnani , Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare , Government of India on Friday said.
The directives comes as a measures to speed up the vaccination drive across the nation. The Ministry had also released revised Guideline for Covid-19 vaccination which will come into effect from June 21. As per the revised guideline, the union government will provide the Covid-19 vaccine free of cost to all the states and Union territory. It also said that vaccine allocation will be based on criteria such as the number of population of the states or the Union territories, diseases burden and most importantly depending upon the progress of vaccination. That means the more the state vaccinated people, the more the vaccine will be provided.
As of now just around 16% of the total population f Manipur has been vaccinated and around 3 % have got complete vaccine doses. The last 15 days show increase in the vaccination drive in the state but the state authority still could not plan more session even as there has also been directives from the Union Ministry that those who are not registered at Cowin can also get vaccination. Till now, the state health department of Manipur is not opening any 24×7 vaccination center, instead , Sunday still remain as a break for the vaccination programme.
The letter from the Additional Secretary of the MoHWF said that the basic guiding principle of the revised Guidelines is that vaccination would be available free of cost to all 18 + people at government Covid Vaccination Centers. Only those who have the capacity to pay may approach Covid Vaccination Center at Private hospitals.
AS per the revised guidelines for vaccination, the government of India will procure 75% of the vaccine products from all production farm.
The Ministry letters also directed all states and Union territories to make everyone aware of the vaccination programme including media, public representatives, local influencers and the public at large that the Covid-19 vaccine are safe , effective and are available free of cost at all Government Covid Vaccination Centers. The private hospital has also been directed to take Rs. 150 as service charge, besides payment of the vaccine charge.
The Ministry also advise to utilise all media to disseminate the information.
It may be noted that advertisement through print and electronic media should be done through the Directorate of Information and Public Relation. Direct advertisement by any competent authority of any departments is in violation of the Manipur Advertisement policy and the person (competent) who released the advertisement by skipping the DIPR are liable to pay the advertisement cost from their own pocket and not from the department’s fund.
