12:03 PM
The dry run for COVID-19 vaccination across all states in India took place yesterday as Covishield, India’s first COVID-19 vaccine was granted approval today. Serum Institute of India has said that it is safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks.
Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Saturday appealed to people not to pay heed to rumors about COVID-19 vaccine. He stressed that there would be no compromise on any protocol while approving the vaccine. He also said that in the first phase of distribution of coronavirus vaccine, would be free for all and shall be provided to most prioritized beneficiaries, including one crore healthcare and two crore frontline workers.
Covid-19 vaccine dry run in India from today
India is all set to undergo one-of-a-kind massive dry run today ahead of the much-anticipated vaccine announcement. What started as a dry run in four states namely Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab on December 28, will now be tried out countrywide starting today to ensure smooth linkages between the planning, implementation and execution of the vaccination drive as well as identify potential challenges so that they can be resolved in a timely manner.
The mock run, which will be conducted today, will witness the transfer of vaccines from special cargo planes, their unloading at the airport, transfer to and from major cold storage points to district-wise cold storage points and finally to vaccination booths in vaccine career. Delhi alone, has currently about 629 cold chain points, 817 ice linked refrigerators and 478 deep freezers. Meanwhile, 1000 vaccination points have been created in government, private hospitals and mohalla cli