COVID-19 Vaccine: Health Ministry Shares Distribution Strategies & Priority-Based Vaccination

As COVID-19 cases spike in India, the central government is hopeful that 400 to 500 million doses of the vaccine will be available in the country in 2021.

Union health minister, Harsh Vardhan, has informed that the government is mulling over plans to roll out the country's first COVID-19 vaccine by prioritizing target groups in the entire population.

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He clarified that it is anticipated that supplies of covid vaccines would be available in limited quantities in the beginning.

"Keeping a close pace with the potential availability of vaccine a plan of action on which sections are to be given priority has been discussed. Importantly, it would be monitored through a scientific approach," Harsh Vardhan told ANI.

Also Read: Wait For COVID Vaccine Till 2022 If You Are Young And Healthy, WHO's Chief Scientist Says

"For this, strategies that have been adopted by the world be it Centre for Disease Control, the United States are being studied continuously. Digital platforms are also being prepared for the same," he added.

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It is to be noted that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration, headed by Dr VK Paul, has been tasked by the Centre to chalk out strategies to plan on how to roll out the distribution of the vaccine in the country.

The high-level panel includes AIIMS director, Dr Randeep Guleria, representatives of the ministries of external affairs, biotechnology, information technology, the Director-General of Health Services, India¡¯s Aids Research Institute, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and also representatives from states.

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The most important component of the planning is the cold chain and other logistics which need to be planned appropriately to ensure no glitches occur in vaccine delivery even up to the last mile.

Vardhan highlighted the need for the massive advocacy required for building community sensitization activities to understand the reasons for vaccine hesitancy and address them appropriately.

Also Read: Pfizer Is All Set To Begin Testing COVID-19 Vaccine In Children As Young As 12

Dr VK Paul presented a "comprehensive study on the priority sections of the population that would have initial access to the vaccine drawing upon recommendations of CDC, USA and the WHO."

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According to Paul, the vaccine will be first distributed among those who need it the most and the listing of healthcare workers will be completed by the end of October or early November.

There are more than 170 vaccines in progress right now, but closer to home we have our hopes pinned on India¡¯s first vaccine called Covaxin.

Covaxin is the first indigenous vaccine that is being developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited along with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology. Currently, the vaccine is in Phase II human trials in the country.

The vaccine candidate has been tested in 12 hospitals across India, where volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 participated in the trial. These volunteers had no co-morbidities. The places where the trial took place include Hyderabad, Delhi, Goa, Rohtak, Patna, Kancheepuram and Bhubaneswar, among other places.

Disclaimer: While there have been several different types of treatments being given to COVID-19 patients across the world, there isn¡¯t any one drug that has worked as a sure-shot treatment yet. Don¡¯t self medicate/stock up and always consult your doctor/medical health professional.

ALL INPUTS PTI/ANI