Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the Center has asked people above 17 years of age to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the state and sought people’s cooperation for this. He also stressed on the need to ensure that people take both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and be vigilant so that the incidence of the disease does not increase again. Addressing a by-election campaign rally here, Sarma said a new directive has come from New Delhi that all people above the age of 17 years can now take the COVID-19 vaccine. I urge you to ensure that all our boys and girls between 17 and 18 years now get the vaccine, he said at a by-election campaign rally here.
The three vaccines currently being administered in the country, Covisheeld, Covaxin and Sputnik V, are for those over the age of 18. These are all two-dose vaccines. Zydus Cadila’s indigenously developed needle-free COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D has received Emergency Use Approval (EUA) for people in the age group of 12-18 years in the country.
Sarma said the incidence of the disease had declined from November 2020 to February 2021, but increased again from April 2021. “We have to take both doses of the vaccine to make sure that such a situation does not repeat itself,” Sarma said. Emphasizing his point, the Chief Minister said that elections will come and go, but people have to survive, do business, continue their education. He said that we have to be alert so that the situation of Kovid does not worsen again.
Dismissing speculations of a possible lockdown again in the state, Sarma said, “We (Assam government) do not want lockdown and we will not implement it. But we have to ensure that people are fully vaccinated. Sarma, who is campaigning for BJP candidate from Mariani, Rupjyoti Kurmi, took a jibe at the development activities undertaken by the state government since assuming power in May this year.
In this context, he mentioned the government’s war against drugs, measures to prevent corruption in administration, besides increasing digitization of government functions. He also told about the various welfare schemes being run by the government. Kurmi had won the Mariani seat for the last four times as a Congress candidate, including in the state elections held in March-April this year. But he had given up the membership of the party and the assembly and joined the ruling BJP.
The saffron party has fielded him for the by-election from the constituency. Besides Mariani, bypolls are to be held on October 31 in Gosaigaon, Tamulpur, Bhabnipur and Thaura assembly constituencies. The counting of votes is to be held on November 2.
.
read all breaking news, breaking news And coronavirus news Here. follow us on Facebook, Twitter And Wire.
.