Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on January 2, 2021, visited two mock vaccination sites in Delhi to review the Dry Run drill for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. He first visited the GTB Hospital in Shahdara and later an Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Daryaganj.
Ahead of the actual vaccination drive, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on January 2, 2021, conducted a nationwide mock drill at 285 session sites to test the end-to-end planned operations and the mechanism that has been set up to ensure smooth conduct of the COVID19 vaccination that is expected to begin soon.
This dry run of the vaccination drive spread across 125 districts is covering all States/UTs having adequate representation of urban and rural districts along with hard-to-reach areas, according to a PIB release.
Expressing his satisfaction over the preparations at the GTB Hospital, Dr Vardhan said, “The entire exercise of the vaccination process is being systematically taken forward including training of personnel for administering the vaccine. Detailed guidelines have been issued to multiple stakeholders after extensive deliberations, paying attention to each and every minute aspect.”
Dr Vardhan said that the digital platform, Co-WIN, repurposed from the e-VIN platform is the real game changer, and will provide real time information of vaccine stocks, their storage temperature, and individualized tracking of beneficiaries of the COVID-19 vaccine. This unique platform will assist the programme managers across all levels through automated session allocation for pre-registered beneficiaries, their verification, and for generating a digital certificate on successful completion of the vaccine schedule. More than 75 lakh beneficiaries have been registered on Co-WIN platform till date, Dr Vardhan said, according to a PIB release.
Speaking on the preparedness for ensuring that the vaccine reaches even the remotest corner of the country, Dr Vardhan said that the country’s cold chain infrastructure has been sufficiently upgraded to ensure last mile delivery. Adequate supplies of syringes and other logistics have also been provided for.
Dr Vardhan warned the citizens against falling prey to rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID19 vaccine. He rubbished the rumours being propagated on social media raising doubts in the mind of the public regarding the vaccine side-effects. He urged the media to exercise caution and to behave responsibly and check all facts before publishing or broadcasting any reports.
Dispelling doubts regarding the country’s capability to undertake such a massive vaccination drive, Dr Vardhan described how India has unparalleled experience in dealing with immunisation and runs one of the largest immunisation programmes in the world. He said India has conducted several successful immunization drives with respect to Polio, Rubella and Measles.
“It is as a result of our steadfastness and dedication, that India was declared polio-free in 2014. Our rich learning from the earlier immunisation drives including the Polio vaccination campaign is being used to guide our present countrywide COVID19 vaccination campaign,” he stated.
At UPHC in Daryaganj, Dr Vardhan reiterated his earlier assurance regarding the safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of the COVID19 vaccine. He reiterated that the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens.
The Minister said that the entire operational planning and IT platform was field tested in four states on December 28 & 29, 2020, and on the basis of feedback received, certain enhancements have been made in the system. All the State & District officials have been thoroughly trained for conducting this dry-run aimed at testing the laid-out mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccine rollout. This dry run will end with review meetings at district and state level to discuss the issues and challenges encountered during the exercise.