New Delhi: In a bid to increase the uptake of the precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccine among the entitled adult population, 75 days-run 'COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava' will start on Friday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.

This special vaccination campaign, which is a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav festival, seeks to give free precautionary shots to all individuals (18 years and older) who are eligible at Government COVID Vaccination Centers (CVCs).
"It will begin today and last for the following 75 days. In an effort to immunise every person between the ages of 18 and 59, "Director of Family Welfare and Nodal Officer for Vaccination, Dr. Bijay Panigrahi, said.
States and UTs have been urged to give an intensive and ambitious push toward full COVID19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries and covering them with precautionary dose. This was discussed in a virtual meeting on Thursday with State/UT Health Secretaries and NHM MDs, which was presided over by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.

It was mandated that states and UTs carry out the "COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava" for 75 days as "Jan Abhiyaan" with extensive mass mobilisation and a camp-style strategy. On the paths of the Char Dham Yatra (Uttarakhand), Amarnath Yatra (Jammu & Kashmir), Kanwar Yatra (all States/UTs of North India), as well as significant Melas and congregations, they were recommended to set up special vaccination clinics.

The Union Health Secretary underlined that less percentage of booster doses uptake among population groups aged 18-yrs and above (8%) and persons aged 60 years and above (27%) is a cause of concern.

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