The requirement, timing and nature of Covid vaccine booster shots will be based on scientific decisions said Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog on Wednesday.
Speaking to ANI, Dr Paul said, “The Union Health Minister has said in the parliament that the need, timing and nature of boosting will be based on scientific decisions and thinking that is what the government is engaged with.”
Asked about the severity of the emerging Covid variant, he said, “Covid always comes with mild symptoms in the initial stages. We are watching any change in the pattern of the presentation of the emerging cases very carefully.”
However, coordinated efforts are being made to certify the availability and optimization of medical oxygen usage said Dr Paul.
“The country has ramped up oxygen production and availability. A lot of efforts have been made across the country including provisioning more than 1,500 PSA plants. Most of them are now functional. In order to improve coordination and facilitation, a comprehensive data system Oxycare has been launched. Things are being monitored regularly. We are prepared for any eventuality,” he added.
Meanwhile, India reported 6,317 fresh COVID-19 cases and 318 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday. India’s Active Caseload presently at 78,190 is lowest in 575 days. Active cases constitute 0.22% of the country’s total Positive Cases, which is lowest since March 2020. The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 12,29,512tests being conducted.
India has so far conducted over 66.73 Cr (66,73,56,171) cumulative tests. While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate at 0.58% remains less than 1% for the last 38 days now. The Daily Positivity rate reported to be0.51%. The daily Positivity rate has remained below2% for last 79 days and below 3% for 114 consecutive days now.
With the administration of 57,05,039 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 138.96 Cr (1,38,95,90,670) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 1,47,11,227sessions.
#Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccineDrive#OmicronVariant @PMOIndia @mansukhmandviya @ianuragthakur @DrBharatippawar @PIB_India @mygovindia @COVIDNewsByMIB @ICMRDELHI @DDNewslive @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/0gWKiEn1BR
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) December 22, 2021
The recovery of 6,906 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) to 3,42,01,966.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.40%, highest since March 2020.
Sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States/UTs continue the trend of less than 15,000 Daily New Cases that is being reported for last 55days now. Daily Positivity rate reported to be0.51%. The daily Positivity rate has remained below2% for last 79 days and below 3% for 114 consecutive days now.
