Follow protocol even after vaccination, says ACS

LUCKNOW: The Covid-19 vaccine would have two doses and immunity would develop only two weeks after the second dose, said additional chief secretary (medical health) Amit Mohan Prasad here on Saturday. Hence, the Covid protocol would have to be followed even after the vaccination, he said at a press conference here.

“The second dose will be administered at a gap of 4 weeks. Covid protocol needs to be followed even after vaccination as immunity comes two weeks after the second dose. So do not think, you can avoid Covid protocol after the first dose,” he added.

“A dry run for the Covid vaccination will be conducted on January 11 at 1,500 vaccination centres. This dry run would include all places where vaccination is planned in the first phase,” he said. He said people needed to go by medical advice even two weeks after the second dose of the Covid vaccine.

“Until the Central government says the infection is controlled now, people should adhere to the Covid protocol, even after getting the vaccine. Covid has been reduced, not eliminated,” he explained. Prasad said of the total United Kingdom returnees in the state, 13 had been found positive for Covid till now. Among them, four were found infected with new strain. Six of their contacts also tested positive for the new strain, he added.

“All of them have been isolated under medical care and containment activity is being done strictly along with extensive contact tracing,” he said.

He also said that the Arogya Mela would resume from Sunday and chief minister Yogi Adityanath would start it from Farrukhabad’s Sankisa primary health centre (PHC). In Sant Kabir Nagar, the health minister would be present at the event.

“In all, 8.5 lakh new golden cards have been issued under Ayushman Bharat scheme since December 25 to 3.10 lakh new families who did not have the card,” said Prasad.