‘300 mn people may get vaccinated simultaneously as per availability of doses’: Union health secy

Healthcare staff, frontline staff, and people on the highest danger of dying from coronavirus illness (Covid-19) – akin to these above the age of 50 or sufferers with comorbidities – are the three precedence teams who’ve been really useful to obtain the vaccine by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC).

Vaccination throughout the precedence teams will happen concurrently relying on the provision of doses, in line with the well being ministry.

“These are the recommendations of NEGVAC and the government has to take a decision based on it. The immunisation process across the groups will not be sequential; it can also happen simultaneously depending upon the availability of vaccine,” mentioned Union well being secretary Rajesh Bhushan at a press briefing on Tuesday.

As per well being ministry estimates, there are round 10 million healthcare staff, 20 million frontline staff, together with the police and the military, and one other 270 million individuals both above the age of 50 or with comorbidities.

He mentioned the state, district and block-level constructions have already been created to make sure a easy supply of the vaccine until the final mile.

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The multi-level coordination mechanism created underneath the NEGVAC has a state-level steering committee headed by the chief secretaries to make sure coordination throughout departments. A state-level activity power, headed by the state well being secretary, to handle logistics for the vaccine supply and administration, and a 24×7 state-level management room have additionally been set-up. At district degree, a district activity power headed by the district collector, an city activity power headed by the municipal commissioner, and a district management room will do the identical. A block-level activity power and block management room will even be created.

Bhushan mentioned that the groups had already began assembly or will achieve this at state degree newest by December 8, at district degree newest by December 14, and at block degree by December 15.

As for the infrastructure wanted for vaccine supply, Bhushan mentioned that there have been 85,634 units out there, akin to deep freezers, freezer vans, and iceboxes. A survey of extra wants has already been completed and requisite orders have been positioned, he mentioned.

There are 28,947 chilly chain factors the place the vaccines and syringes are saved. “These are adequate for storing the existing vaccines for the universal immunisation programme and another 3 crore vaccine doses for the first phase of vaccination,” mentioned Bhushan.