Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on the 9th of April, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the shortage of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 vaccination.
The letter was written in the wake of the Central Government announcing ‘Tika Utsav’ (vaccine Utsav.) The Government of India (GoI) announced Tika Utsav across India to celebrate vaccination drives and to administer a maximum number of COVID-19 doses to senior citizens and eligible people. The event is scheduled to begin from the 11th of April.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister asked the Central Government to provide a supply of 25 lakh more vaccine doses.
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “There is an urgent need for another 25 lakh doses for our State which if made available to us before April 11, Tika Utsav can be celebrated under your able leadership in my State in a grand manner and it can be showcased at the national level (sic.)”
Briefing about the available stock of vaccination, Jagan Mohan Reddy said, currently Andhra Pradesh has only 4 lakh vaccine doses. As per the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to vaccinate at least 6 lakh people a day during the ‘vaccination utsav.’ He said, “We have drawn out an action plan to cover 6 lakh people (4 lakh in rural areas plus 2 lakh in urban areas) per day, totalling to 24 lakh people in four days of the Tika Utsav. However, for ensuring that Tika Utsav is a success, vaccine supplies must be assured.”
In order to make the Tika Utsav a success, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) assured full cooperation to the Union Government. The State Government also promised support in all aspects like vaccine wastage reduction, management of vaccination to curb the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.
Jagan Mohan Reddy also highlighted the arrangements made for the utsav and said, “My State has a system of volunteers where a dedicated volunteer takes care of the needs of 50 families. These volunteers would be roped in to mobilise eligible persons for vaccination.” He further added, “In four days, 4,580 villages and 1,036 urban wards shall be covered to ensure all persons above 45 years of age are vaccinated on a saturation basis.”
According to the Chief Minister, during the special vaccination drive, 1,145 villages and 259 wards covering respective areas of 1,140 primary health centres (PHCs), and 259 UHCs would be covered.
However, to make it work and plan accordingly, the Andhra Pradesh Government needs 25 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccination.
The announced Tika Utsav is scheduled to begin from the 11th of April and would continue till the 14th of April.
Stay tuned for further updates.
