Dry run In 4 states in preparation of Covid vaccine rollout

To prepare for a COVID-19 inoculation drive in India, the government has planned a dry-run of the vaccination process in four states – Punjab, Gujarat, Assam and Andhra Pradesh – on 28 and 29 December.

Two districts in each of these states across India’s four zones will check their preparedness in five types of medical settings – district hospitals, community and public healthcare centres, urban and rural areas, and private facilities.

The dry run will focus on management of any possible adverse events following immunisation, besides conducting mock drills, checking usage of the Co-WIN vaccine registration app, storage and transport preparedness, and crowd management.

Infection control practices will be followed at the site to prevent disease transmission.

“It will provide insights on any gaps or bottlenecks so that those could be addressed before the commencement of the COVID-19 drive. The dry run is to be conducted in one or two districts under the overall leadership of the district collector/magistrate,” said Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu.

Over 2,000 training sessions have been held so far and 7,000 officials have been trained, including medical officers, vaccinators, alternate vaccinators, cold chain handlers, supervisors, data managers, and coordinators of accredited social health activists (ASHA).

India may begin vaccinating “in any week” of January, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had said.

Delhi and Hyderabad airports have started prepping to safely store and transport the temperature-sensitive vaccines.