With the vaccinaton programme making slow progress in certain states, the Union Health Ministry has asked states and Union territories to organise mop-up rounds for those healthcare and frontline worker who had missed the vaccination against coronavirus in the first round of inoculation drive. ALSO READ | Kanpur Counter Rerun: Constable Dead, Another Injured As Goons Attack UP Cops During Liquor Factory Raid


What are fresh deadlines?


In a series of deadlines for vaccination, the ministry asked the states and UTs to implement mop-up vaccine sessions and cover inoculate healthcare and frontline workers who might have missed their turn to get vaccine dose on schedule.


"States and UTs have also been advised that mop up rounds for healthcare workers must be organised by February 24. The aim is to ensure that those workers who could not come during scheduled vaccination sessions will avail the benefit to get vaccine dose," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said. .


February 20: The minister, added it is difficult to indefinitely schedule and reschedule healthcare workers. States/UTs have been advised to scheduledo vaccination at least once for all healthcare workers by February 20.


Feabruary 24:  On February 24, a mop up round or round up session should be scheduled for those healthcare workers who have missed their turn to get vaccinated. This should be kept as the last day to get the first jab.


March 1: The states and Union territories have been asked to scheduled vaccination for all frontline workers by March 1.


March 6: "We have advised states and UTs that all front line workers must be given an opportunity of mop-up rounds by March 6," Bhushan said.


Also, states can schedule multiple mop up rounds to cover all priority groups.


Meanwhile, the third phase of vaccination drive for people above the age group of 50 and those with co-morbidities like diabetes or hypertension is likely to begin in March.


So far, a total of 63,10,194 beneficiaries including healthcare and frontline workers have been vaccinated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.