All states to begin vaccine dry run from today

A dry run for the Covid vaccine will be held in all states today. There are indications that the approval for a vaccine could be around the corner. On Thursday, the Union Health Secretary chaired a high-level meeting with all states ad union territories to discuss the issue.

This is the second dry run being conducted in India. The first was held on 28 and 29 December in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat and had gone off without q problem according to the government.

Around 96,000 vaccinators have been trained for this. 2,360 participants have been trained in National Training of Trainers and over 57,000 with district level training in 719 districts.

The dry run will be conducted at selective places in each state. It will be conducted in in at least three sites of each state capital. Some states will have to include districts situated in difficult locations or have poor logistical support. Maharashtra and Kerala are likely to schedule the dry run in major cities other than their capitals.

The health ministry said this drive will also test the operational feasibility in the use of Co-WIN application in field environment. “An important focus of the dry run will be on management of any possible adverse events following immunisation,” read a statement from the ministry.