New Delhi: Dry run of the COVID-19 vaccine will be carried out in all the states and union territories of the country from today to identify the challenges faced in the campaign and examine the link between the plan and the implementation. A rehearsal of the first phase was done on December 28 and 29 in two districts each of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab.
The Union Ministry of Health has proposed to carry out this exercise in at least three session sites in all state capitals. The ministry also said that in some states this exercise will be carried in such districts where access is not easy and where vaccine logistics could face challenges.
Objective of vaccine dry run
The rehearsal of COVID-19 vaccination aims to assess the potential of using the Co-Win application in the real environment, test the link between planning and implementation, and identify challenges and strategise actual vaccination drive.
Preparations
The central government has also asked all the states and union territories to start preparations to start the rehearsal of COVID-19 vaccination.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan held a high-level meeting with the Principal Health Secretaries and other health officials of all states and union territories and reviewed the preparations at the session sites for COVID-19 vaccination.
The plan to start vaccination will be in accordance with the campaign guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry on 20 December.
For the upcoming rehearsal, the medical officer in charge for each of the three (dry run) session sites will identify 25 beneficiaries (health workers) to be vaccinated.
The ministry said the states and union territories have also been asked to ensure that the details of these beneficiaries are uploaded on the Co-Win app. These beneficiaries will also be available for rehearsal at the dry run session venues.
States and Union Territories have also been asked to ensure that physical verification of all proposed sites is done in terms of space, logistic management, internet connectivity, power, security, etc.
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They have also been asked to ensure that the three-room structure at the respective sites has separate entry and exit gates. There should be enough space outside to display awareness related information and display all IEC material at these sites.
All states and union territories have been asked to identify vaccination teams and ensure adherence to all standard operating procedures and protocols at the identified sites, including training them in every way.
The ministry said that the rehearsal will also enable the administration of states and union territories in the management, storage and logistics of vaccine supplies, including refrigeration chain management.
Approximately 96,000 vaccine personnel have been trained for the vaccination drive. A total of 2,360 participants have been trained under national trainer training, while in 719 districts, more than 57,000 participants have been given district level training.
State helpline '104' will be used (in addition to 1075) for any information related to vaccine and software.
The ministry said that the important objective of the rehearsal would also be to prepare for any possible adverse incidents during the vaccination.
The exercise will also be monitored at the block and district level and the state will review the workforce feedback and share it with the Union Health Ministry.
The first phase was rehearsed on December 28 ad 29 in two districts each of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab.
The ministry said that no major issues came up during this period and all states expressed confidence in the campaign guidelines and information technology platform for the implementation of the program on a large scale.
