Guwahati, Nov 28: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the Assam government has set a target to complete the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state by December 5 and the state government will start a week-long massive vaccine certification drive from November 29.
“Till now 2.10 crore people of Assam have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines and nearly 3 lakh people are still left out. We will start a massive vaccine certification drive in the state from November 29 to December 5 by aiming to cover the three lakh people who are yet to receive the vaccine,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The Assam Chief Minister further said that nearly 1 lakh government employees will take part in the massive drive.
“From ministers to MLA, MP, government officials, employees will take part in the vaccine certification drive. Each polling booth in the state will be assigned to the government employees and they will visit each and every house under the assigned polling booth and will tally the vaccinated people with the voter list. Verification team will conduct house-to-house visits in each polling station areas to cross-check & countersign the certificates for completion of the first dose of COVID vaccination for the corresponding area. This will be a massive exercise to prevent third wave of COVID. After completion it they will certify that how many persons under the polling booth have received COVID-19 vaccines. Once receiving 28000 certificates we will submit these to the centre. During the drive, we have set a target to cover three lakh people who are yet to get vaccine and Assam will become one of the states who have completed first dose of vaccination,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
He also asked officials to carry out the program in mission mode to identify those who didn’t take the vaccine, especially the second dose, and ensure vaccination of all eligible people within the stipulated period and directed to keep all medical facilities ready to meet any exigency.
He further said that, so far 1.15 crore people of the state have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccines and it is almost 50 percent of the eligible beneficiaries of the state.
“Our first dose vaccination drive will be continued because there are many pregnant women in the state who are yet to get the vaccine and many teenagers will become eligible to get the vaccine in coming days,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
He also said that – “As we are inching closer to the mark of 100% first dose vaccinations, I urge all eligible people of Assam to join in our Jan Andolan by getting themselves vaccinated to ensure their as well as others’ well being.”
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Expressing concern about the detection of the new Omicron variant, the Assam Chief Minister said that, the people of the state have once again to be careful and this is a global health warning issued by WHO and vaccine is still an effective tool to fight against COVID-19.
He also said that, after detection of the new COVID-19 variant, the union government has now taken it very seriously and has issued guidelines and the state government will also follow the guidelines.
