New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced that his government is planning to enlist poll booth-level officers to vaccinate people above 45-years of age in the national capital.

Announcing an ambitious plan, Mr Kejriwal said that if there is no shortage of vaccines, everyone above 45 years of age will be vaccinated in the city within four weeks. There are 57 lakh people in Delhi who are above 45 out of which 27 lakh have received their first jab.

Polling booth officers will be knocking at every door in their wards and allotting a slot for taking the jab to everyone above 45 years. The vaccination will take place at their polling booths, the Chief Minister said in a press conference adding that this plan will come into effect from Tuesday in 70 wards of the capital.

“Few people are turning up at the vaccination centres for the above 45 years age group. So we have decided instead of waiting for people, we will go to them for vaccination. People can now get vaccinated at their polling station,” Mr Kejriwal said announcing the door-to-door survey plan.

Delhi has around 280 wards. Each week, vaccination will take place in 70 wards, Mr Kejriwal announced.

Mr Kejriwal said that all people above 45-years will be urged to go to their polling stations where they can get vaccinated.

Adding that everyone knows where there polling stations are, the Chief Minister said that since the booths are at a “walking distance” from their homes, people should be easily able to go to get the vaccine.

If someone refuses to take the jab, booth level officers, civil volunteers will try to persuade them to take the vaccine, he added saying the officers are already in training. Those who get the time slot for vaccination but don’t turn up to take the jab, the officers will again go to persuade them to get inoculated.

E-rickshaws will also be made available for the people to take them from their houses to the polling booth to get vaccinated, the Chief Minister said,

The process will be repeated in two rounds for both doses of the vaccine. Mr Kejriwal also added that the Delhi government will follow this plan to vaccinate the 18-44 age group as well when the capital has enough doses.