Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that 29,000 cold chain points, 240 refrigerators, 70 freezers, 45,000 ice-lined refrigerators, 41,000 freezers and 300 solar refrigerators will be used for the storage of the Covid-19 vaccine. “All the necessary vaccination resources have been delivered to the states,” he added.
To be sure, 36 states and Union territories have concluded state steering committee and state task force meetings. 633 districts have concluded District Task Force meetings.
In addition, training modules for medical officers, vaccination officers, alternative vaccination officers, cold chain managers, supervisors, data managers, ASHA coordinators, etc. were also finalized. Physical training and training on virtual / online platforms have started. National and state training of trainers (ToT) workshops were completed.
At a press conference, Bhushan added: “Post-vaccination adverse events are a critical issue. When we undertake a universal immunization program, which has been in place for decades, some adverse effects are observed in children and pregnant women after vaccination. vaccination”.
Furthermore, Bhushan also added: “We cannot deny the possibility of an adverse event when COVID-19 vaccination begins. Countries where immunization has already started, especially in the UK, adverse events occurred on the first day. It is critical that states and TUs prepare for this as well. “
The development comes just days after the Center unveiled its mega Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the coming months stating that “everyone will receive the vaccine.”
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, said on Sunday that initially, only 100 people will receive the vaccine, but eventually, all will receive the vaccine.
“We are going to begin the process of shipping the necessary equipment for the storage and handling of the coronavirus vaccine to the states. For now, only 100 people will receive the vaccine at one post per day. Over time, everyone will receive the vaccine. , said. .
Vaccinate 100-200 people in each session per day, monitor them for 30 minutes after administering the injections to detect any adverse events and allow only one beneficiary at a time, are some of the guidelines issued by the Center for the inoculation campaign of COVID-19.
In accordance with guidelines recently issued to states, the COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) system, a digitized platform, will be used to track beneficiaries enlisted for vaccination and coronavirus vaccines in real time.
At the vaccination site, only pre-registered recipients will be vaccinated according to prioritization, and there will be no provision for on-site registrations.
States have been asked, to the extent possible, to assign a manufacturer’s vaccine to a district to avoid mixing different COVID-19 vaccines in the field.
According to the ‘COVID-19 Vaccine Operational Guidelines,’ all measures should be taken to avoid exposing the vaccine carrier, vaccine vials or ice packs to direct sunlight, according to the document.
Vaccines and diluents should be kept inside the vaccine container with the lid closed until a recipient arrives at the center for vaccination.
“There may be no Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM) and the expiration date on the COVID-19 vaccine label, this should not deter vaccinators from using the vaccine. At the end of the session, the carrier of the vaccine with all ice packs and vaccine vials must be sent back to the cold chain distribution point, “the guidelines stated.
States have been asked to implement a comprehensive 360-degree advocacy communication and social mobilization strategy to address the challenges surrounding the progress and benefits of vaccine launch.
The Center has stated that the country is on the cusp of administering the COVID-19 vaccine, even when certain challenges need to be countered in time.
“These may include the challenge of ensuring that more than 1.3 billion people in India receive timely and objective information and updates on the progress and benefits of the vaccine launch, anxiety, and public inquiries about the government’s decision to prioritizing vaccine administration, apprehension about introduced vaccines after a short trial raising safety concerns and fear of adverse events, misconceptions about vaccine efficacy, rumors and negative narratives in media / networking spaces and the laxity observed in public adherence to appropriate COVID behavior, “the document stated.
The vaccination team will consist of five members, he said.
Each session should be planned for 100 beneficiaries per day. If the session site has adequate logistics and space available for the waiting room and observation room along with crowd management arrangements, one more vaccination officer can be added to create a session for 200 beneficiaries, indicated the guidelines.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be offered first to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and people over 50 years of age, followed by people under 50 with associated comorbidities based on the evolving pandemic situation, and finally to the rest of the population. on the epidemiology of the disease and the availability of vaccines.
The priority group over 50 years of age can be subdivided into those over 60 years of age and those aged 50 to 60 years in order to graduate implementation according to the pandemic situation and vaccine availability.
“The last electoral roll for the Lok Sabha and the election of the legislative assembly will be used to identify the population aged 50 and over,” the guidelines stated.
In phase one of vaccination, it is planned to vaccinate almost 30 million inhabitants.
Twelve photo identity documents, including voter ID, Aadhar card, driver’s license, passport and pension document, will be required for self-registration on the Co-WIN website, he added.
With inputs from agencies
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