From identifying the priority groups that will receive the COVID-19 vaccine first to organizing vaccination centers, the central government has begun to prepare a plan to implement the coronavirus vaccine in the country, once it is available. The coronavirus vaccine will be distributed under a special COVID-19 inoculation program, using the processes, technology and the existing Universal Immunization Program (UIP) network, official sources had previously said.
Frontline workers will be the first to get vaccinated in India, according to a senior official. “Health workers, both from the public and private sectors in rural and urban areas of India, are fighting the battle. In addition, municipal workers and police officers fighting everywhere must be a priority, “said Dr. Vinod Paul, a member of Niti Aayog and head of a panel advising the prime minister on the country’s efforts to produce and deploy the vaccine.
The central government has already started the process of identifying some 30 million priority beneficiaries. It has demarcated four categories of people for vaccination in the initial phase: 1) Around a crore of health professionals, including doctors, MBBS students, nurses and ASHA workers; 2) About two million front-line workers, including workers in municipal corporations, 3) Police and armed forces personnel; about 26 million people over the age of 50; 4) A special group of under 50s with comorbidities and requiring specialized care.
COVID-19 vaccination campaign:
The existing digital platform of the Ministry of Health eVIN for the IPU will be used for the distribution and delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. An SMS will be sent to the recipients mentioning the time, date and place to receive the injections. 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 proof of identity can be used, the sources said.
Anganwadi centers, schools, panchayat buildings and other similar facilities will be used in addition to health care facilities as vaccination sites, according to the news agency. PTI. State governments would identify buildings that can be used as vaccination booths under the special COVID-19 immunization program.
The Center plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines directly from drug manufacturers and distribute them to priority groups. States and union territories have been asked not to chart separate hiring routes, according to reports.
India has booked around ₹50,000 crore at an estimated ₹500 per person to vaccinate the second most populous nation in the world, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.
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. Reporting on the preparation of a cold chain for vaccine storage, the Union’s health secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, said: “He has also projected the additional cold chain that will be required. Currently, that group is now involved in mapping private sector facilities. ” with minor modifications, they could be converted to meet the need to supplement cold chain equipment. “
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