As Bharat Biotech is gearing up to launch its COVID vaccine Covaxin in February, the centre has started working on finalising the system on how to deliver and distribute the vaccine. If Covaxin gets launched in February, it will be the first covid-19 vaccine available in India.
The Centre is in the process of identifying the priority groups that will get the vaccine first and at no cost.
Earlier a government official informed that the coronavirus vaccine will be allocated under a unique COVID-19 immunisation programme, using the processes, technology and network of the existing Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
An expert team has prepared a draft on deliberating the details regarding the vaccination process. Earlier, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan had said states have been asked to identify a group of priority recipients and it is estimated that in the initial phase, a total of 30 crore priority beneficiaries will get a vaccine dose.
Dr Vinod Paul, member of Niti Aayog and the head of a committee suggesting the prime minister on the country’s efforts to produce and roll-out the inoculation said, “Health workers, both in public and private sector across rural and urban India are fighting the battle. Also, municipal workers and police people fighting everywhere should be a priority.”
The central government has broadly identified four categories who will get the vaccination in the initial phase:-
1. One crore healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers, and MBBS.
2. Around two crore frontline workers which will comprise of municipal corporation workers, police personnel and personnel belonging to armed forces.
3. Twenty-six crore people aged above will also be treated as a priority group as they are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
4. A group of One crore special category people which will include those below 50 years of age but with co-morbidities and who require special care.
COVID-19 Vaccination to these people will be free of cost.
The Union Health Ministry has asked states to establish a task force for the smooth-running of the vaccination drive for which the existing eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network) platform will be used.
The vaccine recipients will be tracked through Aadhaar, but it won’t be mandatory. An SMS will be sent to the recipient’s number mentioning time, date and venue to get the vaccine shots and in case a person doesn’t have an Aadhaar card, any government photo identity ID can be used.
Anganwadi centres, schools, panchayat buildings and other such organisations will be utilised in addition to healthcare offices as vaccination locations. Identifying buildings where vaccination booths can be set up will have to be decided by state governments under the special COVID-19 immunisation programme.
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The Centre aims to obtain COVID-19 vaccines directly from the drugmakers and will distribute them among the priority group. The centre has directed the states and union territories to not to plan a separate way to acquire the vaccine.
It has been reported that India has fixed about ₹50,000 crores which is estimated to cost ₹500 per person to vaccinate.