Second COVID vaccination mock-drill across India on January 08

New Delhi, Jan 07 (India Science Wire): In the light of coronavirus vaccine roll-out, the central
government is going to execute a mock drill on vaccine administration on January 08, 2021. These drills
are aimed to ensure efficient planning and management for vaccine delivery in each district of all states
and Union Territories.
Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), as a simulation of actual execution, has planned
another round of dry run or mock drill in all 700+ districts of all States/UTs, except Uttar Pradesh and
Haryana, on 8th January 2021, to ensure efficient planning and management of world’s biggest COVID-
19 vaccination programme. Uttar Pradesh has already carried out the dry-run exercise on 5 th January.
The vaccination mock-drill exercise will be carried out in the state of Haryana on 7 th January.
Each district will identify three types of session sites, similar to the previous dry run including a public
health facility (District Hospital/Medical College), private health facility and rural or urban outreach
sites.
Two COVID-19 vaccines named Covaxine and Covisheild have been given emergency use authorisation
by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) recently. The planning of the vaccination drive including
beneficiary registration, microplanning and vaccination at the planned session site, will be tested under
the leadership of the District Collector/District Magistrate. “The dry run will also familiarize the State,
District, Block and Hospital level officers on all aspects of COVID-19 roll out. This activity will help
administrators in strengthening the linkages between planning, implementation and reporting
mechanisms, identification of any residual challenges before the actual implementation and to provide
confidence to the programme managers at all levels to carry out a smooth implementation of the
vaccination drive” says the document released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Around 1.7 lakh vaccinators and 3 lakh vaccination team members have been trained on the process to
be followed at the vaccination sites which include beneficiary verification, vaccination, cold chain &
logistics management, bio-medical waste management, AEFI management and reporting on Co-WIN
software. Detailed operational guidelines on all aspects of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, including
session planning & management, session site layout & its organization, AEFI management, IEC messages,
infection prevention & control practices etc., have already been shared with the States/UTs and they
have also been oriented on the same.
To facilitate the entire vaccination process, a software,‘Co-WIN’, has been developed by the Health
Ministry for real time information on vaccine stocks, their storage temperature and individualized
tracking of beneficiaries for COVID-19 vaccine. This software will assist the programme managers across
all levels in conduct of the vaccination sessions. A dedicated 24×7 call centre has also been established
for technical queries of Co-WIN users. The cold chain infrastructure (like walk-in-freezers, walk-in-
coolers, ice-lined refrigerators, deep freezers) along with sufficient supplies of syringes and other
logistics have been ensured to begin COVID-19 vaccination drive. MoHFW will set up a National Media
Rapid Response Cell (NMRRC) to address the questions and queries raised by the media and journalists.
“NMRRC will ensure preparedness through media monitoring and social listening and respond in real

time and unfold media and public discourse, through extensive monitoring of print, electronic and
digital media” says the document.

Related posts:

210-bedded Ayush Covid care centre in Mysuru Government to launch Ayurveda and Yoga protocols for management of Covid-19 Curious case of Coronil : Patanjali can sell its drug but not as ‘cure’ for Covid-19 Government plans to set up All India Institute of Ayurveda on Konkan coastline Indian envoy to US highlights joint Indo-US Ayurvedic trials to combat COVID-19