New Delhi (NVI): A dry run to check the best way to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and plug loopholes in logistics and training has started in all the states and Union Territories today.
Furthermore, this day-long drive will also test the operational feasibility in the use of CoWIN application in a field environment.
Short for Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network, CoWIN is a digital platform to roll out and scale up the vaccination drive.
The massive exercise comes a day after a panel of government-appointed experts recommended approval for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India, to the regulator Drugs Control Authority of India.
Today’s exercise is the second dry run being conducted in the country – the first was on December 28 and 29 in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat.
The vaccine dry run is aimed at equipping the entire administration and management of vaccine supply, storage and logistics, including cold chain management.
In addition to this, the activity is being conducted in all state capitals in at least three session sites. Some states include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support.
The States and UTs have been directed to ensure physical verification of all proposed sites for adequacy of space, logistical arrangements, Internet connectivity, electricity, safety.
As the vaccine administrators will play an important role in the vaccination process, training of trainers and those who shall administer the vaccine has been taken up across various states. Around 96,000 vaccinators have been trained for this purpose.
Meanwhile, the central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of drive. It will be offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with 2 crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with comorbidities.
-CHK
