We target to vaccinate 20 lakh beneficiaries of the age group of 15-18 years within a period of 60 days: Assam CM

On the first day of the drive, the state government has set a target to cover nearly 500 government, private and venture schools and at least one lakh students to be vaccinated.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said in Assam the eligible beneficiaries of the age group of 15-18 years is around 20 lakh and set a target to cover all beneficiaries of this age group within a period of 60 days.

“Today we have launched the vaccination programme in the entire Assam for kids, students between the age group of 15-18 years. In Assam the eligible beneficiaries of this age group is around 20 lakh. We are giving Covaxin. We will be able to cover the vaccination for this age group within a period of 45 days to 60 days. From January 10, we will start vaccination programme for the frontline workers, doctors, nurses and they will get precautionary dose that means the third dose. We will also launch precautionary dose for the senior citizens from January 10 on the basis of medical advice. I hope if we can complete the vaccination on time, we will be able to save our citizens from the third surge. Assam has a very high degree of vaccination track record. So far we have covered 3.76 crore doses and the first dose is almost completed and in second dose we have covered around 70 percent of our citizens. I am hopeful that we will be able to cover the entire citizen by this month with full doses,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The Assam Chief Minister further said vaccination is the biggest preparation to deal with third surge.

“We have adequate hospital beds, ICUs and we have good oxygen supply to face any eventually,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The Assam government has set a target that, the process of vaccination of the students of age group of 15-18 years will be completed by the first week of March, 2022.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)