India plans to use the expansive network of its 42-year-old universal immunisation programme to manage the logistics of administering Covid vaccines next year.
Officials involved in the planning process said on condition of anonymity that the existing infrastructure and human resources will be sufficient to vaccinate the first 30 million Indians, primarily health care workers and first responders, when the country starts vaccinating people early next year.
“Out of the 2.39 lakh-strong force of vaccinators of the existing immunisation programme, at least 1.5 lakh workers will be used for administering Covid vaccines to the first two priority groups tentatively from January to March 2021,” said one of the officials, a top government official.
“The existing 29,000 cold storage facilities should be enough to store and distribute 60 million doses required for the priority groups during this period,” he added.
The Union well being ministry has additionally written to all states and Union territories to establish individuals who could be utilised for the mass Covid-19 vaccination drive.
“As you might be conscious, authorities of India has initiated preparations for introduction of Covid-19 vaccine, upon its availability. As a part of the preparations, one of many actions is creation of database of well being care staff (HCWs) who will probably be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine… It’s reiterated that the potential vaccinators amongst the HCWs have to be recognized for assist through the Covid-19 vaccination drive,” mentioned the letter despatchedon November 23by Vandana Gurnani, extra secretary, ministry of well being.
