India has recorded more than 1.01 million coronavirus cases so far.
Highlight
- Cold storage controls, transport will be part of the trial
- All four states will report their observations to the center
- In Andhra Pradesh, the test will take place in the Krishna district.
New Delhi / Hyderabad:
Today begins a two-day trial for the coronavirus vaccination program in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Assam. The focus on the management of possible adverse events after vaccination, and trials that include cold storage controls and transportation arrangements will be part of the program to be carried out in the chosen districts in each state.
All four states will report their observations to the center recorded during the program. The government plans to cover 30 million people in the first phase when it launches the Covid vaccine.
So far, a total of 2,360 training sessions have been held and 7,000 officials, including doctors and vaccinators, have been trained.
In Andhra Pradesh, the test to be carried out in Krishna district is aimed at testing planned operations and mechanisms established in the state, Health Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar told reporters on Sunday.
“It will provide information on loopholes or bottlenecks so that they can be addressed before the start of the campaign,” the PTI news agency was quoted as saying.
In all four states, five sessions will be held at identified locations with 25 previously identified trial beneficiaries (healthcare workers) for each session.
The viability of Co-WIN, an electronic application that identifies beneficiaries, and the prerequisites for the introduction of the vaccine will be evaluated according to operational guidelines.
Panels of AEFI (adverse events after immunization) will be formed and treatment centers will also be identified if the vaccine triggers an adverse response in any of the beneficiaries.
“After the rehearsal, we will prepare a report for the State Task Force, which will review the comments and guide us on future actions,” Bhaskar said. The report will also be submitted to the Union Ministry of Health, the commissioner said.
In Assam, the health department will implement the trial in two districts: Sonitpur and Nalbari districts. End-to-end testing of the Covid-19 vaccination process includes the mobilization of vaccines and logistics to sites in the two districts, according to the functionaries .
Earlier this month, Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute of India (SII) and Pfizer had submitted an application to the Comptroller General of Medicines of India (DCGI), seeking an emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 vaccines.
India has recorded more than 1.01 million coronavirus cases so far, the second highest in the world after the United States. More than 1.47 lakh people have died after contracting the virus, one of the most infectious the world has seen in decades.
(With PTI inputs)
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