Against the backdrop of rising cases of highly infectious omicronThe Union Health Ministry on Saturday sent multi-disciplinary teams and nodal officers to 10 states that are reporting either an increase or vaccination coverage below the national average.
Teams including experts will be stationed in the states for the next three-five days to assess the situation in the states, suggest corrective action and submit the report by 7 pm every evening. Teams have been deployed in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab.
UP and Punjab, which figure in the list, are headed for assembly elections, and on Thursday, the Center had specifically asked polling states to increase their vaccination numbers.
“Given the rapid increase in cases and deaths COVID-19 (As reported by various news channels, state governments and internal reviews, the statement said) … It has been observed that several cases of Omicron have been reported in some states. It has also been seen that the speed of vaccination of Kovid-19 in these is less than the national average. In view of the situation, it has been decided to deploy multi-disciplinary central teams in 10 identified states, some of which are reporting increased number of omicron cases or slow vaccination pace,” the health ministry said in an office memorandum.
Sources said that the mention of deaths was largely to Kerala.
Teams will specifically focus on five areas: contract tracing, which includes monitoring, control operations; COVID-19 testing, which involves sending enough samples from clusters to the INSACOG network for genome sequencing; COVID-19 Fair Practices and Its Enforcement; Adequate logistics including availability of hospital beds, ambulances, ventilators, and medical oxygen; and vaccination progress.
India’s jab story
Overall, 89% of the country’s adult population has received the first dose of a COVID vaccine, and 61% have been fully vaccinated.
Five of the selected states currently have more than 5,000 active cases: Kerala (26,265); Maharashtra (12,108); West Bengal (7,446); Karnataka (7,280); and Tamil Nadu (6,798).
Maharashtra (57%) and Tamil Nadu (57%) are also reporting second dose coverage below the national average. Moreover, Maharashtra has by far the highest number of omicron cases, 108, selected through genome sequencing.
Mizoram is on the list as it is the only state in the country where two districts are reporting more than 10% positivity rate: Champai (11.72%) and Mamit (13.62%). Two districts in Mizoram have reported 2,096 cases per million, as against the national average of 72.
The four states with low first dose and second dose vaccination coverage are Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Punjab in the list. Bihar has given a total of 9.66 crore doses: 79% have received the first dose, and 54% have been fully vaccinated. UP has given 19.38 crore doses in total: 83% with first dose, 45% fully immunized. Jharkhand has given a total of 2.86 crore doses: 69% with the first dose, and 41% fully immunised. Punjab has given 2.60 crore doses: 77% have received the first dose, and 41% have been fully vaccinated.
Overall, 89% of the country’s adult population has received the first dose of a COVID vaccine, and 61% have been fully vaccinated.
Presiding over a high level review meeting on Omicron on Thursday, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi The health ministry was directed to send central teams to the states reporting a surge in cases and those with inadequate health infrastructure as well as to enhance vaccination coverage.
On the same day, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to states that pockets with low vaccination coverage may be more vulnerable to the new Omron variant – and that district administrations should pay special attention to these pockets.
Importantly, he also flagged that states due for elections in the near future should “rapidly vaccinate” – especially in “low coverage districts”.
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