COVID-19 Vaccine: Odisha Not Among States Picked For Dry Run

Picture courtesy AIR

New Delhi: The Centre is preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine roll out across the country. Four states are set to initiate a dry run for vaccine administration next week, according to the Union Health Ministry.

However, Odisha is not among the four states picked for the dry run of the vaccine. Odisha has been a step ahead in preparations for the vaccination as per the national guidelines.

“Odisha stands prepared for COVID-19 vaccination with a prioritised list and well-designed multi-sectoral response system at different levels,” Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy had said earlier this month.

“Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, and Punjab have been selected considering the geographical locations. Each State will plan it in two districts and preferably in different (five) session type settings e.g. district hospital, CHC/PHC, urban site, private health facility, rural outreach etc,” a release from the ministry was quoted by The Hindu.

According to the Ministry, this exercise will enable end-to-end mobilisation and testing of the process of COVID-19 vaccination.

It can also check the usage of Co-WIN in the field environment, the linkages between planning, implementation and reporting mechanisms and identify challenges and guideway forward prior to actual implementation including improvements that may be required in the envisaged process, reported the national daily.

The programme managers will also get hands-on experience at various levels.