Jan 3, 2021, The vaccine against Covid 19 will be provided free to most prioritised beneficiaries including one crore healthcare and two crore front-line workers, health minister Harsh Vardhan said as a nationwide dry-run to test preparedness for the vaccination drive took place on Saturday

NEW DELHI: The vaccine against Covid 19 will be provided free to most prioritised beneficiaries including one crore healthcare and two crore front-line workers, health minister Harsh Vardhan said as a nationwide dry-run to test preparedness for the vaccination drive took place on Saturday.
Vardhan said details are also being finalised for vaccination of 27 crore people in the 50 plus age group and those who are younger but have serious comorbidities.

Official sources said various options like offering a subsidised price and use of Ayushman Bharat insurance are being evaluated for inoculation of those above 50 years age and those with co-morbidities.

The government has already registered over 75 lakh beneficiaries on Co-WIN – the IT platform developed by the Centre to implement the mega vaccination drive. Besides, around 1,14,100 vaccinators have been trained and sufficient supplies of syringes and other logistics have also been ensured to begin the vaccination drive.
The government plans to roll out the vaccine within ten days of the final regulatory approval. While the subject expert committee (SEC) examining applications from different companies seeking emergency use authorization has recommended a grant of permission for two vaccines – Serum Institute’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, both jabs are waiting for a final nod from the Drugs Controller General of India.

The government plans to innoculate 30 crores ‘priority’ population by July. However, healthcare and frontline workers will be among the ‘most prioritized’ beneficiaries to receive the vaccine during the first two months of its rollout, when supplies are likely to be limited.
Ahead of the actual vaccination drive, the health ministry on Saturday conducted a nationwide mock drill at 286 session sites across 125 districts to test the end-to-end planned operations and the mechanism that has been set up to ensure smooth conduct of the Covid 19 vaccination that is expected to begin soon.
“I appeal to people not to pay heed to rumours. Ensuring the safety and efficacy of the vaccine is our priority. Different kinds of rumours were spread during polio immunisation but people took the vaccine and India is now polio-free,” Vardhan said after reviewing the dry run at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital and Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Daryaganj in Delhi.