IEP Chandigarh, April 7-
Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that people in the state, who have got precaution dose under the vaccination program to prevent Covid infection, will be given free supplement so that the citizens of the state can be protected from Covid infection. Apart from this, he directed the officers of the health department that all the health workers should be given precaution dose as soon as possible.       Sh. Vij said this in a meeting organized with Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Sh. Mansukh Mandaviya through video conferencing here today.       He said that all health workers in the state will be given precaution dose as soon as possible and it has been made mandatory for all these workers to get this dose within 7 days after receiving the vaccine. He said that directions have been given to the officials to vaccinate people with Co-morbid and elderly people so that these people can be protected from Covid infection.       Informing the Union Health minister through video conferencing, Sh. Vij said that at present there are 1109 active cases of Covid in Haryana, out of which 25 are in hospital while 2 are on oxygen which are co-morbid. He informed that a sufficient number of machines, laboratories and other equipment are available in the state to deal with the Covid infection.        Apart from this, 103 percent first dose of Covid vaccination have been administered, 86 percent second dose has been administered in the state but along with motivating people to administer 100 percent third dose i.e. precaution dose, they should be given supplement. He said that apart from organizing health camps from time to time, wide publicity should also be done to administer precaution dose. Suggesting to the Union Minister, he said that if the rates of the vaccine are fixed, then the state government will be able to vaccinate the people by purchasing the vaccine from its own funds.       Appreciating the suggestion of Sh. Vij, Union Health Minister Sh. Mansukh Mandaviya said to all health ministers and secretaries of health departments across the country that wide publicity for Covid vaccination should be done through various mediums. He said that although people become careless about vaccination when the situation of Covid infection goes down, they should be aware of their health and can also go to private hospitals to get Covid vaccine. He said that right now XBB 1.16 sub-variants are active in India. The Union Health Minister instructed the State Health Ministers to conduct review meetings in their respective states, monitor health services, visit hospitals, conduct inspections to stop the sale of spurious medicines, and stressed on testing and genome sequencing.       After video conferencing, the Health Minister instructed the officials of the Health Department to continuously increase testing in the state and lay emphasis on genome sequencing. He said that according to the instructions, 140 per million testing should be done at the district level.Giving information about the steps taken to prevent Covid, he said that all Covid-19 positive samples are being sent for whole genome sequencing. Instructions have also been given regarding COVID-friendly behavior including wearing of masks by patients and health care workers in the hospital premises. Wearing masks has been made mandatory in crowded and high-risk places. Availability of Flu Corner in health facilities has been ensured for effective surveillance of Covid cases and testing for Influenza. The availability of COVID-19 related medicines is also being monitored at all levels as per the requirement in the health care facilities.       On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr. G. Anupama, Managing Director of National Health Mission Haryana, Dr. Prabhjot Singh, Joint Director of Medical Education and Research Department, Smt. Meenakshi Raj, Director of Health Services Department, Dr. V.K. Bansal and other senior officers of the Health Department were present.
