The third and most comprehensive dry run to check the preparedness for the Covid-19 vaccine in the state would be organised on Tuesday. This rehearsal would be done at 309 vaccinated sites for 7725 beneficiaries.
Addressing the media persons here on Monday, the Director General (DG) of state health services, Dr Amita Upreti said that the department is fully geared up for the vaccination drive of Covid-19 commencing from January 16. She informed that in the first phase three lakh health workers and frontline workers would be vaccinated. The department has earmarked 4943 government and private health units and a total of 9708 vaccination sessions would be organised in them. Vaccine would be administered to 87588 health workers on the basis of priority.
Dr Upreti further informed that a total of 317 cold chain points have been made where the vaccine would be stored. An arrangement for 483 ice island refrigerators, 547 deep fridges, three walk in coolers and two walk in freezers has been made. As per the guidelines of the government of India, the vaccination would be in three phases. In the first phase, the vaccine would be administered to health care workers and front line workers, in the second phase people of more than 50 years of age and those with co-morbidity would be given the vaccine while in the third phase the remaining population would be covered. The department would deploy 502 observers for monitoring the vaccination and apart from them 120 additional observers would be stationed who would also act as vaccinators,’’ she said.
The DG stressed that health services would not be allowed to get affected by the vaccination drive and an advisor group is also working at the level of government of India on this. Dr Upreti informed that the administrative arrangement for the vaccination drive would be done on the lines of the general elections. " At every vaccination centre, a waiting room, vaccination room and an observation room would be there. One vaccinator and four vaccine officers would remain stationed in a centre and 100 beneficiaries would be vaccinated in one centre,’’ she said. The DG further informed that a state level steering committee is constantly monitoring the arrangements and in every district a task force headed by district magistrate has been constituted. She claimed that adequate arrangements have been made to deal with any adverse effect from the vaccine. The vice chancellor of the medical university Dr Hem Chandra, the principal of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC), Dr Ashutosh Sayana, the state president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Alok Semwal, additional mission director Dr Abhishek Tripathi and others were present on the occasion.
