Nationwide COVID-19 vaccination rollout likely next week, says government

Nationwide COVID-19 vaccination rollout is likely next week, the government has said. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has said that the final decision regarding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout lies with the government.

NEW DELHI: Based on the feedback of the dry-run conducted in all states and Union Territories, the Government is now ready to introduce the COVID-19 vaccine within 10 days from the date of emergency use authorisation by the drugs regulator.

It may be noted that the DCGI had on Sunday announced the approval of two vaccines for restricted use in the country. Briefing media, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, however, said that the final decision regarding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout lies with the government.

The Union Health Secretary said that in any immunisation programme in India, manufacturers first transport vaccines to four Primary Vaccine Stores across the country from where it is transported in bulk to 37 state vaccine stores and then to districts and finally to PHCs. 

Bhushan further stated that the four primary vaccine stores called Government Medical Store Depot (GMSD) are located in Karnal, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata and there are 37 vaccine stores in the country. They store vaccines in bulk and distribute them further, the Health Secretary.  

The Health Secretary said, only 43.96 per cent of the total active cases of COVID-19 are under treatment in health-care facilities He added that active cases per million in India is 167 and deaths per million is 108. There is a continuous decline in active cases which are now below 2.5 Lakh. India has reported only 96 new cases and 1 death per million population in the last 7 days.

Speaking about a new strain of the virus, Secretary Biotechnology Renu Swarup said, the Government has launched Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, INSACOG within the country and ten laboratories have been identified where genome sequencing work is being done. She said, there is no scientific data to support the higher infectivity of UK SARS-CoV-2.

Speaking on vaccines, ICMR DG Prof. Balram Bhargava said, in terms of the Indian study, 1600 participants of age group more than 18 years were recruited, their immunogenicity data is being generated.

Member (Health) in NITI Aayog Dr V K Paul said an optimistic scenario is emerging with the pandemic situation consistently improving in the country in terms of active cases and new deaths declining.