Covid vax drive needs to be taken door-to-door: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the COVID-19 vaccination drive needs to be taken door-to-door now and stressed the importance of completing the inoculation by taking the second dose.

Cautioning against any laxity after surpassing the milestone of 1 billion vaccine doses, Modi said "a new crisis can come" and quoted a saying to assert that one should not underestimate "diseases and enemies as they should be fought till the very end".

With a single-day rise of 11,903 new infections, India's Covid tally reached 3,43,08,140 out of which 3,36,97,740 people have recuperated from the disease, while the number of active cases declined to 1,51,209, the lowest in 252 days, according to the Union Health ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The death toll has climbed to 4,59,191 with 311 new fatalities, that include 187 from Kerala and 48 from Maharashtra, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.34 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 107.59 crore on Wednesday, with more than 27 lakh jabs given till 7 pm, the Union Health ministry said.

The Prime Minister called for equal attention to taking the second dose of the Covid vaccine, noting that whenever the cases of infection start decreasing, the feeling of urgency among people decreases.

Modi made the remarks as he interacted with district magistrates of over 40 districts spread across Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and other states with districts having low vaccination coverage.

Talking about the issue of rumours and misunderstandings about Covid vaccination, he said awareness is the only solution for this and asked the state officials to take help from religious leaders in this regard.

The Prime Minister noted that religious leaders are very enthusiastic about the vaccination campaign.

Recalling his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican a few days ago, he called for a special emphasis on taking the message of religious leaders on vaccines to the public.

Speaking to the officials, he urged them to change gears from making arrangements earlier for taking people to the vaccination centres and getting them safely vaccinated to now administering vaccines door-to-door.

Modi urged the health workers to reach every house with the passion of "har ghar tika, ghar-ghar tika" (vaccine at every doorstep).

He also urged the officials to work with the spirit of "har ghar dastak" (knocking on every door) to ensure full vaccination of both doses.

"Now, we are preparing to take the vaccination campaign to each household. With the mantra of 'har ghar dastak', every household lacking the security net of a double dose of vaccine will be approached," he said.

He also cautioned that while reaching out to every house, equal attention needs to be paid to the second dose along with the first dose of the vaccine.

Over 114 crore Covid vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union Territories so far through the Centre's free of cost channel and through direct state procurement category, the ministry said on Wednesday.

More than 14.68 crore (14,68,60,146) — balance and unutilised — vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs, it said.

The Central government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country, the ministry added.