According to a plan that was deliberated by a group of experts, state governments would identify buildings that can be used as vaccination booths under the special COVID-19 immunization program that would run in parallel to the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) existing.
“Vaccination sites will not be limited to health facilities. Such centers would also be set up in anganwadi centers, schools, panchayat buildings and other similar facilities identified by state governments,” said a source.
The existing digital platform of the Ministry of Health eVIN that is being used for the IPU is being improved for the distribution and delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine, through which SMS would be sent to the recipients informing the time, date and place for receive the vaccines and connect them digitally and also track them, the source said.
Each person on the immunization list would be linked with their Aadhaar cards to avoid duplication and track recipients. However, in case a person does not have an aadhaar card, a government photo ID can be used, the sources said.
The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) system provides real-time information on vaccine stocks and storage temperatures at all points in the country’s cold chain under the IPU.
The prime minister, during a review meeting last month, had suggested leveraging the experience of successful election conduct and disaster management to develop the vaccine delivery and distribution system, with the participation of state / UT / district officials. . civil society organizations, volunteers, citizens and experts from all necessary fields.
The coronavirus vaccine, once available, would be distributed under a special COVID-19 inoculation program, using the existing IPU’s processes, technology and network, official sources had previously said.
According to them, the Center will purchase the vaccine directly to make it available to priority groups through the existing network of states and districts.
The vaccine is scheduled to be administered to priority groups free of charge.
States have been asked not to chart separate procurement routes, they said.
The Center, with the help of state and UT governments, has begun the process of identifying around 30 million priority beneficiaries who would receive the vaccine dose in the initial phase.
The government has demarcated four categories including about 1 crore of healthcare professionals, including doctors, MBBS students, nurses, and ASHA workers, etc., around two crore of frontline workers, including workers from municipal corporations , police and armed forces personnel, around 26 crore of people over 50 and a special category of those under 50 with comorbidities and requiring specialized care.
States were asked to enlist priority population groups to receive the vaccine in mid-November.
The National Committee of Experts on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 has already mapped the existing cold chain that is currently used in the government’s immunization program and has also projected the additionality that will be required.
Currently, cold chain facilities at more than 28,000 locations are being used under the IPU. Currently, the group is committed to mapping private sector facilities to increase capacity.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in October that the Center estimates it will receive and use doses of 40 to 50 crore of the COVID-19 vaccine covering 20 to 25 crore of people by July next year.
Stating that the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine will be spread over a year with the inclusion of multiple groups “sequentially starting with health workers,” the health ministry has sought the constitution of committees at the state level and who will review preparatory activities in terms of cold chain readiness, operational planning, strategies for specific state challenges in terms of geographic terrain and hard-to-reach areas, etc.
The ministry has suggested the creation of a state steering committee (SSC) chaired by the chief secretary, a state task force (STF) led by an additional chief secretary or a chief secretary (health), and a district task force (DTF ) which will be headed by the district magistrate.
This story has been published from a news agency feed with no changes to the text. Only the title has been changed.
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