Govt will vaccinate entire Delhi in 3 months: CM Kejriwal

New Delhi: Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the Delhi government will increase the count of the vaccine jabs from 30000-40000 per day to 1.25 lakh per day along with doubling the vaccination centres from 500 to 1000 in the next few days. The timings for administering the vaccine from 9 AM to 5 PM are also being increased to 9 AM to 9 PM, he added.

He appealed to the Centre to provide relaxation in the Corona guidelines and open vaccination for all above 18 years and the Delhi govt will vaccinate the entire city in 3 months. If the Central government allows vaccination for all, and if the Delhi government gets a sufficient supply of the vaccine that is to be administered, the Delhi government has formulated a plan to administer the vaccine to the entire Delhi in the next three months, added the CM. He also appealed to the Central government to decentralize the system and allow the state governments to administer the vaccine on a war-footing basis.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal convenes a meeting to review the situation of Corona in Delhi, along with Delhi Health Minister Shri Satyendar Jain and other health officials.

Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, "In the last few days, we have seen a spike in the number of Corona cases. This surge is not like the previous surge which was observed in June, September, and November 2020, but in the last few weeks, our daily count was between 100-125 cases. In the last 3 days, the spike is much more than the last few weeks with more than 500 cases in a single day. The Delhi government is deeply concerned about the situation." 

He said, "First, the spike is not dangerous and lethal. We used to have 6000-7000 cases earlier, but they are now 500. So, there is no need to panic. Second, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking adequate measures to address the situation. Our health experts are being consulted regularly, along with also holding regular consultations with the health experts of the Central government. We are following all the measures advised by the experts. We observed a certain amount of laxity in the entire system because the cases had gone down. We will be implementing the tracking, tracing, and isolating system with full dereliction. The surveillance and enforcement will be implemented adhering to a strict outlook, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing." 

CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "We all know that the vaccination program began in January. Obtaining the vaccine will protect a person from contacting Corona again, and it is the only effective method against Corona. But what is ironic is - increase in the number of cases alongside a comprehensive vaccination program. We are administering the vaccine to 30000 to 40000 people every day.

To increase this number, we will improve the government system and do away with any lapses that the system currently has. On the other hand, I want to appeal to the people who are still hesitant to get a vaccine, there is no need to be scared or hesitant. I have got my vaccine shot, my parents have also got it and we are facing no health complications. In fact, we are now protected from contacting Coronavirus." 

"We will now increase the count of the vaccine jabs from 30000-40000 per day to 1.25 lakh per day. To achieve that, we will increase our infrastructural capacity in the next few days. We currently have around 500 vaccination centres in Delhi, which will be doubled in the next few days. These centres will be increased to more than 1000. Currently, the government vaccination centres administer the vaccine from 9 AM to 5 PM. This time slot is also being increased from 9 AM to 9 PM to increase the capacity of the vaccine," he added. 

CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "I also want to appeal to the Central government to provide some relaxation in the vaccination guidelines since it is coming off as a barrier to the efficient functioning of the vaccination centres. We now have two months of experience in the vaccination process. We will be writing a letter to the Central government to bring some relaxation in a few parameters in the vaccination guidelines. We assure them that we will be careful, but if the Central government agrees to provide certain relaxations, it will help us in opening new centres. Many of the existing centres are functioning for 24 hours, we will instruct more centres to function for 24 hours." 

CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "On one hand, India has taken a lead in making a vaccine for the Coronavirus, but unfortunately, on the other hand, we are observing a rise in Corona cases in the country. I would appeal to the Central government to bring some relaxation in the Corona vaccination guidelines in terms of eligible age groups which can get the vaccine. The current guidelines are very rigid. Our country is now doing good in terms of the production of the vaccine. Therefore, rather than creating a list that mentions the eligibility, age groups with co-morbidities, etc, we should create a list that is uneligible, for instance, people below 18 and other age groups." 

"We should now open the vaccination centres and allow the vaccine for all The vaccination centres should be turned into walk-in vaccination centres. If the Central government allows vaccination for all, and if we get a sufficient supply of the vaccine that is to be administered, we have formulated a plan to administer the vaccine to the entire Delhi in the next three months. I want to appeal to the Central government to decentralize the system, have less control over it, and allow the state governments to administer the vaccine on a war-footing basis," added the CM.