Today UT’s, The nationwide 2nd dry run of Vaccines.
Key sentence:
- A second national drill is scheduled to be conducted on Friday across 737 districts in 33 states and Union Territories.
- On January 2, the very first nationwide drill was conducted covering 74 districts.
- The activity will also include evaluating the digital Co-WIN network that will be the cornerstone of the distribution management framework for the Covid-19 vaccine.
A second national drill is scheduled to be conducted on Friday across 737 districts in 33 states as well as Union Territories to evaluate the country’s preparedness for implementing a mammoth vaccination campaign, days after India’s drug regulatory gave its approval for both Covid-19 vaccines.
The first nationwide drill on January 2:
Friday’s drill will be the largest to date undertaken in the country. On December 28-29, a dry run was conducted in only eight districts. On January 2, the very first nationwide drill was conducted covering 74 districts.
Union health minister Harsh Vardhan stated:
Another dry run will be carried out using the lessons learned from the earlier exercise. In an online conference on Thursday, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan assured states and Union Territories that whatever was missing earlier has been corrected and it will be checked in the dry run of Friday.
“Vardhan, who addressed questions at the meeting about the timeline for receiving vaccine shots, placed: “It [supply of vaccines] is in process, and then we will notify you [states/UTs] as soon as we move towards the country’s final phases of vaccination.
His remarks emerged on the day the Union Ministry of Health said in a communication that the first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines is likely to be received by states and UTs shortly as well as asked them to remain prepared to accept the consignments.
The two vaccines approved by IDG on 3rd January:
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, as well as the indigenously produced Bharat Biotech vaccine, was approved by India’s drug regulator on January 3 for restricted emergency use in the region. Officials said the vaccination drive would commence in the second week of January.
The simulated drills on Friday are another effort to test the infrastructure including logistics that will play a significant role in immunizing 1.3 billion people in the country and familiarising the district as well as block-level officials with all aspects including its roll-out of Covid-19.
The Co-WIN digital platform:
The activity will also include evaluating the digital Co-WIN network that will be the cornerstone of the distribution management framework for the Covid-19 vaccine. The app will also be used to provide real-time vaccine stock statistics, cold storage status, as well as help, organize vaccination dates and venues with receivers.
