Precaution dose must for vulnerable groups

     Raipur, December 23, 2022: Chhattisgarh today participated in a national review meeting of the Health Ministers to check the preparedness on COVID-19, where it was stressed for precautionary doses for all vulnerable groups.

     Health Minister T S Singh Deo attended the meeting along other health ministers and secretaries from states and the union, presided over by the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

     Dr Mandaviya reviewed the public health preparedness for management of COVID-19 and the vaccination progress with state health ministers, in view of recent rise in cases globally.

     The Union Health Minister advised States to be on the alert and keep all preparedness for COVID-19 management.

   States were requested to continue with pre-emptive & proactive approach and to strengthen the surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to ensure timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country. 

     “The Centre and states need to work in a collaborative spirit as we have done during the previous surges,” said Dr Mandaviya.
     “Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour continue to remain the tested strategy for COVID management,” he said.
    States has been advised to strengthen their surveillance system and ramp up testing and ensure readiness of hospital infrastructure.

     Focus is to be given to health facility-based sentinel surveillance, pan-respiratory virus surveillance, community-based surveillance, and sewage, wastewater surveillance.

     Union Health Minister also advised States and union territories to ramp up vaccination of all eligible population, especially of the elderly and vulnerable population group.

     He cautioned against spreading of misinformation by ensuring dissemination of factually correct information in a timely manner.