Charing a review meeting on COVID-19 and immunization progress with Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, the states that have a higher growth rate in the number of daily cases , increased positivity, high mortality and saturation of health care capacity, Vardhan also added that 216 crore doses will be available in the period August-December.

He mentioned that the increase in doses over the past four months is due to the planned approval of the new vaccine from Zydus Cadila, the Serum Institute of India – Novavax vaccine, the nasal vaccine from Bharat Biotech and the mRNA vaccine from Genoa, which will further increase the availability of doses for citizens.

Vardhan highlighted the critical challenges facing these states:

Gujarat has shown a gradual increase in positivity since April; the recovery rate is 79%, lower than the national average; nearly 100% of intensive care beds in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Mehsana and 97% and 96% of oxygen beds in Ahmedabad and Vadodara were occupied, indicating saturation.

Andhra Pradesh has had an increasing positivity rate since early April 2021; the weekly growth rate reached 30.3%; Chittoor, East Godavari, Guntur, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam have been reported as Districts of Concern.

Uttar Pradesh experienced an exponential growth in cases over a six-week period (~ 5,500 to ~ 31,000 cases and 2% to 14% positivity); Lucknow and Meerut have over 14,000 active cases, with all bed categories over 90% occupied.

In Madhya Pradesh, 10 districts have more than 20% positivity with more than 1 lakh of active cases statewide; Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur were reported as Districts of Concern. Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have been cautioned to have a high proportion of deaths in the 18-45 age group.

The Minister of Health has expressed a firm opinion that the current cap on COVID cases should not be seen as a sign of complacency but as a breathing space to expand, reorganize and improve the health infrastructure. State health administrators urged to increase intensive care units and oxygen beds, undertake oxygen audits, take stock of drug availability in the state, and strengthen their staff medical, read a press release.

Dr Sujeet K. Singh, Director of NCDC, presented the epidemiological findings and granular analysis of the trajectory of COVID in the United States. He suggested continuing to focus on health infrastructure in small towns, as residents of neighboring towns and villages would rush there in the event of a power surge. He also asked states to keep an eye out for variants of COVID through the INSACOG consortium. Vandana Gurnani, AS & MD, Department of Health and Family Welfare gave a presentation on the optimal and judicious use of vaccine doses.

A point of common consensus among state health ministers was that vaccines had resulted in milder forms of COVID, thus preventing the loss of precious lives. Noting that all states need more vaccines to expand their immunization coverage, Dr Harsh Vardhan said production is steadily increasing to meet increased demand as vaccines that are currently being produced continue to be distributed. fairly and promptly sent to States / UT.

Ashwini Kumar Choubey assured states that the Union government will listen to all their demands and try to meet them according to their capabilities.

States have been advised to ensure full use of available immunization slots for the 45+ age group / health workers / field workers with awareness campaigns to raise awareness of the importance to complete the second dose of vaccine. It was reaffirmed that States should focus on reducing vaccine wastage as this will be factored into subsequent allocations to that State. States have been advised to form a 2/3 member team at State level, modeled on the dedicated team at the Union Ministry of Health, in order to coordinate regularly with manufacturers on vaccine supplies. timely through “Other than Government”. of India channel ”and also coordinate with Pvt. Hospitals for their supply. The Union Health Ministry has already shared the list of Pvt. Hospital with doses contracted and supplied by the State / UT.