On the seventh day of the Phase-II of countywide vaccination drive on Sunday, Union DoNER minister Dr Jitendra Singh visited several vaccination centres in Guwahati.

The DoNER minister interacted with citizens while inquiring about their well-being and also asking if there was any suggestion from the vaccination-seekers or anything more that could be done for them either at the official level or unofficially at the social level.

At the Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Dr Singh interacted with the medical and paramedical staff engaged in the vaccination drive.

Later, he was briefed by senior doctors led by GMCH principal, Dr AC Baishya.

During his interaction with the citizens, Dr Singh said, it was the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the vaccination drive has not only to be carried out on a fast-track but “we must also ensure ease of vaccination”.

For this purpose, he said, while the government was doing its best, the social organizations could also contribute to ensuring comfortable commuting and convenient accomplishment of the vaccination process, particularly for senior citizens, the DoNER minister said in a statement.

Dr Singh said, the world’s biggest vaccination drive has been undertaken in India to ensure the protection of its 130 crore population but at the same time, Prime Minister Modi is keen that it should be carried out with least inconvenience to any citizen.

The DoNER minister was informed that through the GMCH alone, 4,000-5,000 citizens have taken their first dose while nearly 900 have also been given the second dose of COVID19 vaccine.

He was also briefed about other vaccination centres in the city and the arrangements made for the purpose.

DoNER minister Singh went through different sections put up at the vaccination centre.

He visited both the visiting area as well as the holding area meant for 30 minutes’ mandatory observation of the person who receives vaccination.

While he was informed about the arrangement of tea in the holding area, he also suggested to make arrangement for light snacks, etc. because some of the citizens, particularly those with comorbidities like diabetes-mellitus may require small helpings of food from time, for which a permanent arrangement needs to be in place.