No Covid deaths recorded in Nagaland last week; who can avail vaccine in next phase?

Dimapur, Feb. 27 (EMN): No deaths related to Covid-19 were reported in Nagaland last week ending February 26, while seven positives cases were detected (excluding one case recorded on Saturday). The state’s death toll due to the Covid pandemic stands at 81.

Out of the seven fresh cases, two each were detected via traced contacts/self-test and travellers, while three were from armed forces/ security, according to weekly bulletin issued by the department of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.

A total of 35,222 contacts have been traced by surveillance teams across the state, it said, adding that “contact tracing remains as one of the crucial pillars of Covid-19 control”.

The update informed that India witnessed a surge in Covid-19 cases in the past week from states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It said

Indian Council of Medical Research has clarified that there is no linkage between surge in cases with the mutant strains N440K and E484Q detected in several states of India since last year.

“Complacency, opening of local transport and institutions, and deviation from Covid-19 appropriate behaviours are responsible for the surge in cases as Covid-19 comes in waves after waves. Several states have made negative RT-PCR covid-19 test mandatory for people coming from the affected states,” the update read.

Who can avail vaccination?

India is all set to start Covid-19 vaccination for those aged above 60 and those with comorbidities from first week of March.

According to the department of Health and Family Welfare, the following age groups will be vaccinated across the country from next month:

• All citizens above 60 years and above as on January 1, 2022.
• All citizens aged 45-59 years of age as on January 1, 2022 with specified comorbidities or diseases subject to certification by a registered medical practitioner.
• Left out healthcare and frontline workers will continue to get the vaccine.

According to the Health department, people with the following conditions (comorbidities) can get vaccinated:

1. Heart Failure with hospital admission in past one year
2. Post Cardiac Transplant/Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
3. Significant Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF <40%)
4. Moderate or Severe Valvular Heart Disease
5. Congenital heart disease with severe PAH or Idiopathic PAH
6. Coronary Artery Disease with past CABG/PTCA/MI; AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
7. Angina AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
8. CT/MRI documented stroke AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
9. Pulmonary artery hypertension AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
10.  Diabetes (> 10 years OR with complications) AND Hypertension on treatment
11. Kidney/ Liver/ Hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Recipient/On wait-list
12. End Stage Kidney Disease on hemodialysis/ CAPD
13. Current prolonged use of oral corticosteroids/ immunosuppressant medications
14. Decompensated cirrhosis
15. Severe respiratory disease with hospitalizations in last two years/FEV1 <50%
16. Lymphoma/ Leukaemia/ Myeloma
17. Diagnosis of any solid cancer on or after 1st July 2020 OR currently on any cancer therapy
18. Sickle Cell Disease/ Bone marrow failure/ Aplastic Anemia/ Thalassemia Major
19. Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases/ HIV infection
20. Persons with disabilities due to Intellectual disabilities/ Muscular Dystrophy/ Acid attack with involvement of respiratory system/ Persons with disabilities having high support needs/ Multiple disabilities including deaf-blindness.

Key points on vaccination of age-appropriate groups:

• The vaccination will be done at identified government (free) and private (chargeable) health facilities.
• Beneficiaries will have to be registered in COWIN 2.0 portal (advance self-registration or onsite registration) and photo ID will be compulsory.
• The three categories are prioritised as they are at the highest risk of infection, severe disease or death by Covid-19 disease.