The world largest Covid-19 vaccination drive is progressing smoothly in the country. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has informed on Wednesday that over 25 lakh 56 thousand doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered to the beneficiaries in the last 24 hours.

The Ministry said, over 14 crore 78 lakh people have already been inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines in the country so far. From the 1st of May, which is also the third phase of the largest vaccination drive, everyone above the age of 18 years will be eligible to take COVID vaccines.

The registration for the 3rd phase will begin from 4 PM this evening on the COWIN portal, Aarogya Setu App and UMANG App.

Railways has made nearly four thousand Covid Care coaches with almost 64 thousand beds ready for use by States. Railway Ministry said, at present 169 coaches have been handed over to various states for Covid care. It has deployed Covid Care Coaches in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi to assist the states in view of rising corona cases in the country.
 
In Delhi, Railways has catered to the full demand of State Governments’ for 75 Covid Care coaches with a capacity of one thousand 200 beds. The Ministry said, 50 coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 Coaches at Anand Vihar stations. In Uttar Pradesh, ten coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli and Nazibabad totalling to a capacity of 800 beds.
 
The Ministry said, new demand for Covid coaches has come from Nagpur District. In this direction, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Divisional Railway Manager, Nagpur and Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The Railways are also mobilising isolation Coaches at Ajni ICD area in Maharashtra as per the State demand.

Centre has provided more than 15 crore vaccines so far to States and Union Territories free of cost. Union Health Ministry said, more than one crore doses of Vaccine are still available with the States and UTs to be administered.

India had launched the world’s largest Vaccination Drive on 16th January this year. The Ministry said, more than 80 lakh doses will be received in addition by the States and UTs in the next three days.

Health Ministry said, recently some media reports quoting some government officials from Maharashtra have pointed out that the vaccines in the State are finished and adversely impacting the vaccination drive in the state.

The Ministry clarified that the total COVID vaccine doses received by Maharashtra as on yesterday are more than one crore 58 lakh. Of this, the total consumption including wastage was more than one crore 49 lakh.

It said, balance of more than nine lakh 23 thousand doses is still available with the state for administration of vaccine doses to the eligible population groups. Furthermore, three lakh doses of COVID vaccine are in the pipeline for delivery in the next three days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed officials to ensure rapid upgradation of health infrastructure in the country. Mr. Modi chaired a meeting yesterday with top officials to review the Covid-19 related situation in the country. He got an overview on the situation in the country relating to oxygen availability, medicines and health infrastructure.
 
The Empowered Group working on boosting Oxygen Supply briefed the Prime Minister on the efforts being made to ramp up availability and supply of oxygen in the country. They informed the Prime Minister about increasing allocation of Oxygen to states. It was discussed that the production of liquid medical oxygen in the country has increased from five thousand 700 tonnes per day in August last year to the present eight thousand 922 tonnes, as on 25th of April. The domestic production of liquid medical oxygen is expected to cross nine thousand 250 tonnes per day by the end of this month.
 
Prime Minister instructed the officials to work closely with state governments to start the PSA Oxygen plants at the earliest. Officers also apprised Mr. Modi that they are encouraging states to also set up PSA Oxygen plants. He was also briefed about the functioning of the Oxygen Express Railways Service as well as the domestic sorties and international sorties undertaken by Indian Air Force to transport oxygen tankers.
 
The Empowered Group working on Medical Infrastructure and Covid management briefed the Prime Minister on efforts being undertaken to ramp up availability of beds and ICUs. They informed the efforts being break the chain of transmission. Prime Minister stressed on the need to ensure that specific guidelines and strategies evolved regarding Covid management needs to be properly implemented by the relevant agencies in the States.
 
The Empowered Group working on communication informed on the efforts being undertaken to improve awareness among people on Covid-related behaviour. Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary Information and Broadcasting, Secretary Pharmaceuticals, Member NITI Aayog, DG ICMR, Secretary Biotechnology and other senior officers were present in the meeting. 

The registration process for COVID vaccination to all above 18 years is starting today. They will be vaccinated in the third phase of COVID Vaccination drive starting from 1st of next month. All those eligible can register on Co-Win portal – cowin.gov.in.

In this phase, the vaccination will continue as before in Central Government vaccination centres free of cost to the eligible people including Health Care Workers, Front Line Workers and all above 45 years of age.

During this phase, vaccine manufacturers will supply 50 per cent of their monthly released doses to the Central government and they will be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to States as well as in the open market..

No walk-in facility will be available for vaccination in this phase. All above 18 years will need to mandatorily register online on the Co-Win platform. The registration will be done with the help of mobile number. People will have to fill up their details and upload one photo ID proof.

After that they will have to schedule the appointment at a centre of their choice. On successful completion of booking, they will receive a confirmation message which will have to be shown at the vaccination centre. In this phase, Centre has also allowed states, private hospitals and industrial establishments to procure the vaccine doses directly from manufacturers.