The Union Ministry of Health has sent operational guidelines to states and Union territories for the supply and distribution of the vaccine whenever it becomes available. India is gearing up for the COVID-19 vaccination drive with three vaccine candidates that are already under regulatory review.

The document that is shared with all states stating that only 100 people each session at each site per day are expected to be vaccinated against coronavirus. However, the total number of people per session might go up to 200 if logistics allow it.

The draft SOP also stated that in any case, if above 200 people are vaccinated within a session then a team of 5 people will be deployed separately (i.e., one vaccine officer and four vaccination officers).

The government, in the document, explored the best way toarrange the vaccine whenever it is available. The states and union territories can fix vaccination days. The document of the Health Ministry said that the conduct of the immunization process will be similar to the election process.

According to the governments new SOP on coronavirus, an immunization site should have three rooms that includes a waiting room, immunization room and an observation room.

First, the COVID-19 vaccine will be given to 1 crore healthcare workers, 2 crore frontline workers, and 26 crore people above 50 years. After these people, vaccines will be available to 1 crore people who are below 50 years of age and suffering from a chronic critical illness. A total of 30 crore people in phase-1 vaccination planning, as per the health ministrys plan.

People above 50 years of age will be identified based on the voter list which is prepared in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. After them, the remaining population will be given the COVID-19 vaccine, when it is ready for public use and based on the spread of the disease.

The draft SOP stated that the beneficiaries would be tracked via a digital platform known as Co-WIN. The detailed information about this platform will be updated in real-time.

Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan has said earlier that the country is looking forward to vaccinating 250 to 300 million people against COVID-19 in the 1st phase which is on priority by July 2021.

Source: mint