New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Power today advised all states and union territories in the country to ensure uninterrupted availability of 24×7 and reliable power supply at all vaccine cold chain storage points and session sites in their respective regions, in the wake of ongoing Covid-vaccination drive.
The Power Ministry, in a letter addressed to Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary (Power/Energy) of all States/UTs, advised them to keep alternate standby power supply to deal with any contingencies.
“Government of India has been proactively taking all necessary steps for carrying out all necessary activities for the nationwide roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine w.e.f 16.01.2021 in close collaboration with all the States/UTs and all stakeholders,” read the letter.
“Further, all States/UTs are advised to also keep alternate standby power supply to deal with any contingencies,” it said.
“A critical element for success of the immunization drive would be the uninterrupted supply of reliable electricity at the vaccine cold chain storage points and session sites. Any kind of power cuts can have an adverse impact on the entire immunization drive.”
“Hence, all States/UTs are advised to ensure uninterrupted availability of 24×7 and reliable power supply at all the vaccine cold chain storage points and session sites in their respective regions,” the letter said.
Notably, India has approved two Covid vaccines for its immunisation drive across the country- Covishield and Covaxin. The good news is that the Indian vaccines need to be stored only at 2-8 degrees Celsius, unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines which require a minus 70-degree Celsius (cold) chain.
-ARK
