PANJIM: In Goa, the frontline healthcare workers would be vaccinated in the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.
The government has constituted a 19-member Block Task Force headed by a sub-divisional magistrate for introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine in the State. The committee will ensure planning and mapping of vaccination sessions where healthcare workers will be vaccinated in the first phase of the vaccine roll-out.
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The task force has been directed to identify vaccinators across government and private sectors so as to minimise disruption of routine immunization services while introducing the COVID-19 vaccine.
This comes as State governments across the country are gearing up to inoculate people once the vaccines for COVID-19 get approval from the regulatory body. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that India may begin vaccinating people from January 2021.
The task force, which comprises representatives from government departments and development partners like WHO, UNICEF, will monitor the progress of the database of beneficiaries to be shared with district authorities to upload on Co-WIN software so also the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine and resolve bottlenecks.
The task force will have to ensure training of human resources on Co-WIN software, will have to oversee the progress on key activities such as micro planning, communication planning, cold chain and vaccine logistics planning.
The government will ensure the involvement of all relevant departments including ICDS, PRI and key immunization partners such as UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International, RMNCH+A lead partners, civil society organizations, non-government organizations at block levels in the vaccinating drive.
There are six COVID-19 vaccine candidates in different clinical trial stages in India, including Covishield, Covaxin, ZyCoV-D, Sputnik V, NVX-CoV2373 and a recombinant protein antigen-based vaccine.
The Serum Institute of India (SII), which is manufacturing and testing the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in India, has also submitted its application for an emergency use licence.
