Andhra Pradesh moots gap reduction for Covid precaution dose

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has urged the Centre to reduce the time-gap between the second Covid19 shot and the precaution dose to six months from the present nine months.

“This would be of benefit to healthcare, frontline workers and those aged above 60 years with comorbidities. This will help them get protection from the Coronavirus," the state has proposed.

Chairing a high-level review meeting with health minister Krishna Srinivas and top officials on Covid19, Chief Minister Jagan advised officials to write to the Centre seeking a reduced time-gap between the Covid second dose and the precaution dose so that this could help more number of targeted beneficiaries to get the shot in advance of three months.

As for the second dose, the CM asked officials to pay more attention to the districts that are lagging behind in giving the shot. Districts like Nellore and West Godavari completed 100 per cent target in Covid jabs to children aged between15 and 18. Five more districts completed 90 per cent target and four districts 80 per cent of the targeted population. Expedite the inoculation drive in the remaining districts, the CM said.

The officials told the CM that they have strengthened all the requisite amenities in hospitals to face the third wave as regards beds, oxygen etc. Some 53,184 beds were kept ready. Out of 27,000 active Covid cases, only 1,100 infected were taking treatment in hospitals. Of these, only 600 needed medical oxygen.

The CM told officials to keep ready all requisite medicines and stock medical oxygen to avoid any complaint of shortage. Unlike the earlier days of a waiting period of 14 days for discharge for C-patients from hospitals, there are now being seen off in a week’s time, officials told Jagan.

The officials said they kept ready 28,000 beds by identifying one Covid Care Centre for each assembly segment.

Referring to the new guidelines from ICMR, they informed the CM that no Covid19 test need be conducted on those who are not showing any symptoms of Covid.

The CM reviewed the functioning of 104 call centres, telemedicine and other facilities and also enquired about the progress of upcoming medical colleges and asked officials to give more publicity on health schemes like Arogyasri, village/ward clinics and government hospitals so that the people would know where to go in times of a need. He also called for resort to artificial intelligence in providing better care to Covid patients.