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INDIA-VACCINE-MOCK DRILL
India to conduct another mock drill of Covid-19 vaccine
administration on Jan 8
NEW DELHI, Jan 6, 2021 (BSS) – In the process of countrywide
coronavirus vaccine rollout, India will conduct second round of mock
drill of Covid-19 vaccine administration in a massive scale on January
8 covering 700 plus districts in different states and UTs.
The mock drill would be conducted to ensure efficient planning and
management for vaccine delivery in each district of all states and
Union Territories (UTs) across the country, Indian health ministry
sources said here this evening.
The 2-day long first mock drill (dry run), which covered 265
districts in several states and Union Territories (UTs) was concluded
on January 3.
On January 2, India’s drug regulator’s authority approved two
coronavirus vaccines- “Covishield and Covaxin” manufactured in India
by Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech for “restricted
emergency use”. The rollout of the vaccines is expected to start on
January 13.
“We are prepared to roll out vaccine within 10 days of emergency use
authorisation approvals…The final call will be taken by the
government,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told media on
Tuesday.
The dry run will familiarize the state, district, block and hospital
level officers on all aspects of COVID-19 roll out and help
administrators in strengthening the linkages between planning,
implementation and reporting mechanisms, identification of any
residual challenges prior to the actual implementation.
Around 1.7 lakh vaccinators and 3 lakh vaccination team members have
been trained on the process to be followed at the vaccination sites, a
statement of health ministry issued here today said.
The process includes beneficiary verification, vaccination, cold
chain and logistics management, bio-medical waste management, AEFI
management and reporting on Co-WIN software.
Besides, detailed operational guidelines on all aspects of the
COVID-19 vaccine roll-out have been shared with the states or UTs, the
statement added.
BSS/AIM/MRU/2147hrs