
Covid-19 vaccine drive: Health Ministry instructs states to identify bottlenecks
The Union Health Ministry held a meeting with all States and UTs on Sunday for a review of progress on the second day of the nationwide vaccination drive and asked them to "identify bottlenecks and plan corrective actions."
In a press conference today, the Union Health Ministry has informed that across the country, as many as 2,24,301 beneficiaries were vaccinated.
The Union Health Ministry also revealed that 447 adverse effect cases were reported from the COVID vaccination drive in the last two days out of which 3 beneficiaries were hospitalized."447 cases of AEFI (Adverse event following immunization) reported on 16th and 17th January, only three required hospitalizations," Dr Agnani said.
The additional secretary also said that majority of the AEFIs are minor in nature like pain, mild swelling at the injection site, mild fever, body ache, nausea, giddiness, and mild allergic reactions like rashes, etc.
On the conditions of three beneficiaries who were hospitalized, the ministry representative said two of these three have been discharged after treatment from Delhi's AIIMS and northern Railway Hospital, while the third was under observation at the AIIMS Rishikesh.
According to the additional secretary, only six states conducted COVID-19 vaccination sessions. The health ministry official also informed that the inaugural inoculation drive in India is the highest day one vaccination number in the world.
"2,07,229 people were vaccinated on day one- the highest day one vaccination number in the world; Higher than the US, UK, and France on day one," he added.
States/UTs have been advised to plan COVID19 vaccination sessions four days in a week to minimize disruption of the Routine Health Services. Some States have already publicized their weekly vaccination days.

23 Cong letter writers plan drive to ‘save idea of India’

India rejects United Nations panel report on Christian Michel

Can’t ignore complaints of sexual harassment: Supreme Court

Harming reputation ground for divorce, says Supreme Court

India out of recession as GDP expands 0.4% in Q3

‘Peace on LAC must to mend ties’: Jaishankar tells Chinese counterpart

Business of liquor needs a major detox

Sops galore hours before poll schedule out

Crucial election cycle in 5 states to start on March 27

Five charts that explain the upcoming elections

IAF adds muscle to firepower in 2 yrs since Balakot

When Pakistan failed to get support during Kargil

‘Did not break any law’: Nodeep Kaur after HC grants bail

SC rejects contempt plea, says tigress Avni killed in accordance with order

‘Best of the best’: Election Commission on poll observer deployed in Bengal
- Poll panel officials said that special central observers are sent to each poll-bound state depending on the sensitivity of the state to look into law and order, expenditure and other aspects. The observers are usually retired bureaucrats who had held top posts in various central agencies.