MHA prepares blueprint to ensure smooth vaccination process

The Union Home Ministry and the Union Health Ministry are working in sync to ensure a smooth Covid-19 vaccination process across India as the country is all set for this mega exercise early January. Sources said that the entire process of vaccine rollout will be closely monitored by the senior home ministry officials to be headed by Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has chalked out a blueprint to assist the Union Health Ministry for a smooth Covid-19 vaccination process across India as the country is all set for this mega exercise early January.

Sources in the Home Ministry told ETV Bharat on Wednesday that the entire process of vaccine rollout will be closely monitored by the senior home ministry officials to be headed by Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

Additional secretary (inter-state) in the Home Ministry Punya Salila Srivastava has also been assigned with monitoring tasks.

Home Secretary Bhalla in a video conference on Wednesday, according to the sources, has asked the chief secretaries of states and UTs to take all necessary steps to ensure a smooth vaccination.

Bhalla told the officials that the government has started preparations for administration and roll-out of vaccines for Covid19. He reiterated that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid19 (NEGVAC) has recommended prioritization of this vaccine during the initial phases to health care workers, frontline workers, persons aged 50 years and above and those below 50 years of age with comorbidities.

It may be mentioned here that Bhalla, recently, in a letter dashed to the administrators of states and UTs asked for their active support to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in identification, preparation of database, vaccine delivery, storage, security, shipment and vaccination of beneficiaries.

Senior Home Ministry officials had a review meeting over the entire process on Tuesday evening. Officials from the Health Ministry and its affiliated organisations were also present in the meeting.

“Accordingly, the home ministry has also instructed all the central law enforcing agencies to support the state government and Union Territories in this mammoth exercise of vaccination,” sources said.

The Home Ministry has also sought help from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology following intelligence inputs that anti-social elements might try to take advantage of the situation to earn money.

Significantly, Cyber Dost, Home Ministry’s cyber-safety and cybersecurity awareness handle said that apprehension associated with COVID-19, cybercriminals are playing various tricks.

“They may offer to pay and register in getting priority to receive the first CORONA VACCINE, through a malicious link, mail, message or phone call…Be aware otherwise you may get defrauded,” it cautions.

It has further appealed to trust only government official and reliable sources for any news related to COVID-19 vaccination and distribution.