This will be the world's largest vaccination programme covering the entire length and breadth of the country and all preparations are in place to initiate the programme on the principles of 'Jan Bhagidari', the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
The PMO statement said the vaccination programme is based on principles of priority groups to be vaccinated first. Healthcare workers, both in the government and private sectors, including Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) workers, will receive the vaccine during this phase.
Here Is All You Need To Know About India's Covid Vaccination Drive
PM Modi To Launch Covid Vaccination Drive
As the country is all set to launch the vaccination drive, which is one of the largest immunization drives in the world, will be launched on January 16, by PM Modi.
“PM Modi will launch pan India rollout of Covid-19 vaccination drive on Jan 16 at 10:30am via video conferencing. Total 3006 session sites across all States/UTs to be virtually connected during the launch. Around 100 beneficiaries to be vaccinated at each session site on Jan 16,” PMO said.
According to reports, PM may also launch the CoWin (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) App, a digital platform created for real-time monitoring of Covid-19 vaccine delivery and distribution.
Separately, sources said Modi is likely to interact via video link with some healthcare workers from across the country who will be receiving the shots on the first day. Officials at New Delhi's AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals, which are among the shortlisted facilities, said they are "ready for a two-way communication".
Over 3 Lakh People To Get Vaccinated
As the first phase of vaccination is set to cover 30 crore frontline workers, which include health care workers and policemen, on the first day of the drive around three lakh people will get the vaccine administered to them, at 3006 sites on the very first day.
As part of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), each vaccination session will cater to a maximum of 100 beneficiaries.
According to the guidelines issued to the shortlisted vaccination centres, healthcare workers (those registered in Co-WIN to be vaccinated) on the launch shall include not only doctors, nurses but also nursing orderlies, safai karamcharis, ambulance drivers, and would be from a mixed age group, including above 50 years.
1.65 Cr Doses Allocated To States, UTs
According to data from the health ministry, a full initial procurement of 1.65 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines, “Covishield” which is developed by Serum Institute of India, and “Covaxin” which is developed by Bharat Biotech has been allocated to all states and UTs in proportion to their healthcare workers database.
"Therefore, there is no question of discrimination against any State in the allocation of vaccination doses. This is an initial lot of supply of vaccine doses and would be continuously replenished in the weeks to come. Therefore, any apprehension being expressed on account of deficient supply is totally baseless and unfounded," the health ministry said.
Only 100 Vaccinations Per Day Per Site
The Union Health Ministry has also advised the states to administer doses to not more than 100 beneficiaries and not to organize "unreasonable numbers of vaccination per site per day"
The ministry also said that states and UTs have also been advised to increase the number of vaccination session sites that would be operational every day in a progressive manner as the vaccination process stabilizes and moves forward.
It is also worth mentioning that the Union Government will be bearing the cost of vaccination to healthcare and frontline workers.