The Assam government is set to launch a week-long mega Covid-19 vaccination drive from November 22 to ensure that all eligible people in the state are vaccinated. The mega vaccination drive will involve all ministers, government officials and employees.

Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said the mega vaccination drive will coincide with the election as every polling booth will be assigned to one government official or government employee.

“The week-long mega vaccination drive will be held from November 22 to November 29. The state cabinet has already decided to launch the mega vaccination drive. We are planning to adopt an election machinery system to conduct the vaccination drive. We will take the voter list from each polling booth as the basic document for the drive,” Keshab Mahanta said.

“From chief minister to chief secretary, all ministers will be responsible for their designated polling booth. They will visit each and every household under the polling booth and collect the data of vaccinated people and those who are yet to get vaccines,” he said.

“So far, the state health department is conducting vaccination drives across the state. But, during the mega vaccination drive, the entire state government will be involved,” Keshab Mahanta added.

A government official will collect data including the person’s contact information and the state in which they are currently residing. Officials will also note if a person has not received the Covid-9 vaccine or if he is currently residing outside of Assam, Assam Health Minister Mahanta said

“The state government will provide the list of these persons to the centre and will urge them to take necessary action to provide vaccines to these persons in the respective states. On the other hand, government officials and employees will also prepare a list of pregnant women, people who have recovered from Covid-19, etc,” said Mahanta.

“We will launch this mega vaccination drive to ensure that all eligible people in the state get Covid-19 vaccines,” Keshab Mahanta added.

As of November 5, Assam had administered 2.87 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines to its eligible citizens, with 2.02 crore receiving their first dose.

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the state government has set a goal of completing Covid-19 vaccination of the state’s eligible population by January 15, 2022.