Health Ministry Ready To Roll Out COVID Vaccine Within 10 Days From Approval Date

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that it is prepared to roll out the coronavirus vaccine within next few days, paving way for mass vaccination drive in the country.

"We are prepared to roll out Covid-19 vaccines within 10 days of granting emergency use authorisation date, based on dry run feedback," said Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan at a press conference.

Approval to two vaccines was given on January 3. The Drug Controller General of India had, on Sunday, announced approvals to two vaccine - Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin - against coronavirus infection - for restricted emergency use.

The announcement is a major relief for India which has the second highest number of infections in the world, after the US.

"There are 4 primary vaccine stores called GMSD located in Karnal, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata and there are 37 vaccine stores in the country. They store vaccines in bulk and distributes further," he said.

"The facility including the number of vaccines stored and temperature trackers is monitored digitally. We have this facility for over a decade in the country," he added.

The vaccine will be first offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities.

"Healthcare workers and frontline workers would not need to register themselves as a beneficiary as their data is bulk database that has been populated on the Co-WIN vaccine delivery management system in a bulk manner," said Rajesh Bhushan.

Earlier while addressing the press, the Health Secretary informed that the active cases in the country are less than 2.5 lakhs and continue to decline. The positivity rate stood at 1.97%. 44% of active cases are in hospital with moderate or severe symptoms needing regular care. 56% of cases are very mild or asymptomatic & are in home isolation. The overall burden on health delivery structure declined appreciably on account of COVID in India.

On Saturday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had announced that one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline will get the vaccine for free.

(With IANS Inputs)