The Union Ministry of Health has asked the States and Union Territories to set up committees to monitor and coordinate coronavirus vaccination (COVID-19) vaccination at the grassroots level, while ensuring that there are fewer disruptions to other routine health services. Are.
In a letter to the States and Union Territories (UTs), Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan suggested setting up committees at the state and district levels to review the preparatory activities.
“In all likelihood, the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine will be spread over a period of one year and will involve several groups of health care workers, respectively. It is therefore important to create a strong advisory and coordination mechanism at the state and district level to lead the Covid-19 vaccine identification process, while minimizing disruption to other routine health services, including vaccination. To ensure, ”according to the terms of the joint references.
These committees will also coordinate activities to expand the cold chain, increase the capacity of vaccinators and field staff, wherever needed.
States have been asked to constitute at least three committees at different levels – a State Steering Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, a State Task Force chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Commissioner or Chief Health Secretary; And the District Task Force functioning under the District Magistrate.
The work of the steering committee is to ensure the active participation of other line departments, to review the development of a database of health care workers based on the Phase 1 immunization initiative, to review the state’s preparedness activities, to mobilize human and other resources, and to coordinate. Planning will involve more.
The role of the State Task Force will be to identify vaccinators in the public and private sectors in order to reduce the disruption to routine immunization services at the launch of the COVID-19 vaccine, and to plan and map immunization sessions where health care workers administer immunizations. Will be imposed, etc.
At the district level, the task force will monitor the progress of the beneficiary database, ensure training of all human resources involved in the process, and oversee cold chain and vaccine logistics planning.
The founder of the Public Health Foundation, Dr. By. “The vaccination will take some time but logistical arrangements will have to be made soon to avoid last minute mistakes,” said Srinath Reddy.
