Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, who reviewed the Covid vaccination progress on Wednesday, advised the States to focus on enhancing second dose coverage as well as immunisation of schoolteachers, according to a Health Ministry statement.

“In the meeting, States were apprised on prompt utilisation of Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP) funds. States were also advised to ensure compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviour and other precautionary measures, ahead of the upcoming festival season,” said the release

The Secretary stressed on having a definite district-level plan to increase coverage of the second dose of vaccination. He also cautioned the States against a spike in Covid cases during the upcoming festival season, and advised them to undertake all possible public health measures to curb this. He cited the example of Kerala where a visible rise of cases has been registered over the past week after Onam.

“With 50 per cent fund of the ECRP-II Package already disbursed to the States/UTs by the Union government, States/UTs were advised to process procurement and supply orders immediately to procure equipment, machinery, beds and drugs under the time-bound ECRP-II package,” the release added.

Stock of medicines

Meanwhile, in the meeting, the policy of maintaining adequate buffer stock of medicines used in treating Covid-19 was also reviewed. As per the release, the States can also procure and maintain a buffer stock of Covid medicines they deem necessary other than the eight essential drugs compulsorily mandated by the Health Ministry.