India has allowed door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination at home for differently-abled people and those with restricted mobility.

Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog, has said that guidelines have been issued for this.

Addressing the press conference, Dr Paul said, “We are starting vaccinations at home for those who are not able to go to vaccination centres (those with restricted mobility/those with disabilities/those with special needs). Advisory has been issued. SOPs will be followed.”

Issuing the SOP, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “It is understood that there are still some persons who might be bed-ridden or have extremely restricted mobility or disability and/or special needs that may hamper their accessibility even to the NHCVCs. It is advised that a line-list of such potential beneficiaries and their caregivers may be prepared in the catchment area of every planning unit and collated at the district level.” 

The Union Health Ministry has further said that even though cases are declining India is still in the midst of the second wave of coronavirus.

Kerala is the only state with over 1 lakh active cases

In the last 24 hours, 31,000 cases odd cases have been reported and most of these cases have been reported from Kerala and Maharashtra.

The government said that Kerala is the only state with over 1 lakh active cases.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that 100 per cent population in 6 states and UTs have been vaccinated with the first dose and these states and UTs are – Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Sikkim.

He further said four states and UTs that have more than 90 per cent coverage of the first dose are Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Kerala, Ladakh and Uttarakhand.

‘Almost a quarter of the adult population received both doses’

On India’s pace of vaccination, Dr Paul said that almost a quarter of the adult population have received both doses and called it an “important milestone”.

“About 2/3rd of the adult population vaccinated with one dose – 66 per cent of 18+ age group received at least one dose, almost a quarter of the adult population have received both doses, it’s an important milestone,” he added.

23 per cent of the adult population received both jabs, he said.