“The planning for the vaccine introduction will be as per the Operational Guidelines issued by the Ministry on 20th December 2020. For each of the three Session Sites, the concerned Medical Officer In-charge will identify 25 test beneficiaries (healthcare workers). The States/UTs have been asked to ensure that the data of these beneficiaries is uploaded in Co-WIN. These beneficiaries will also be available at the session site for the dry run. The States and UTs shall prepare the facilities and users to be created on CoWIN application including uploading the data of Health Care Worker (HCW) beneficiaries,” the Health Ministry mentioned.
The government has also asked state and union territory administrations to assure physical verification of all proposed web-sites for the adequacy of space, logistical arrangements, world-wide-web connectivity, electrical energy, security, and so on. “Prepare at least three model session sites in each State (at State capital) for demonstration; ensure that the Model Sites have separate entry and exit in a ‘three-room set-up’ with adequate space outside for awareness generation activities; display all IEC material at these sites; ensure that all SOPs and protocols are being practiced at the identified sites in an ideal environment along with vaccination teams to be identified and trained in all aspects. The dry run will also equip the State and UT administration in the management of vaccine supply, storage, and logistics including cold chain management,” the Health Ministry mentioned.
Union Health Secretary today chaired a higher-level meeting to critique the preparedness at session web-sites for COVID-19 vaccination with principal secretaries (Health) and other overall health administrators of all states and UTs by way of video-conferencing.
With the objective of gearing up for the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine across the nation, the Central Government has also asked all States and UTs to assure helpful preparedness for the vaccine roll out.