States to Gear Up for COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out, Dry Run on 2 Jan

The Union Health Secretary has chaired a high level meeting with all states and union territories.

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The Centre has asked states and Union territories to gear up for the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines, as the dry run for vaccine administration is slated to take place in all states and Union Territories on 2 January.

The Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, according to a government press release, on Thursday, 31 December, chaired a high -level meeting with all states and Union territories.

The objectives of the dry run would be to “assess operational feasibility in the use of Co-WIN application in field environment, test the linkages between planning and implementation and identify the challenges and guide way forward prior to actual implementation,” the press release stated.

It further noted that “the activity is proposed to be conducted in all State Capitals in at least 3 session sites and some States will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support. Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to schedule the dry run in major cities other than their Capital.”

“For each of the three Session Sites, the concerned Medical Officer In-charge will identify 25 test beneficiaries (healthcare workers),” the press release added. The centre has also asked the states to “ensure that the data of these beneficiaries is uploaded in Co-WIN,” it added.

‘Detailed Checklist Prepared by Union Health Ministry’

According to the press release, all states have been asked to ensure “adequacy of space, logistical arrangements, internet connectivity, electricity, safety etc.” They have also been urged to “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 and finally, ensure that all SOPs and protocols are being practiced at the identified sites.”

The Union Health Ministry has provided a “detailed checklist” with the purpose of guiding the states and UT’s through the dry run, and also asked them to focus on the “management of any possible adverse events following immunisation (AEFI)” and “adherence to infection control practices at the session site, to prevent disease transmission.”

Several states have initiated the training of trainers and those who shall administer the vaccine. The press release mentioned that around 96,000 vaccinators have been trained for this purpose.