Author: Nidhi Sharma
Publication: January 14, 2021
Date: The Economics Times
URL:    https://m.economictimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/vaccine-plan-four-days-a-week-for-covid-shots-quota-for-each-district/amp_articleshow/80260145.cms?utm_source=twitter
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The health ministry has circulated detailed directions to states on how to inoculate the identified priority groups just as the first tranche of the Covid-19 vaccines started to reach state capitals.

The Centre has designated four days of the week — Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday – for administering Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase of the immunisation programme, a senior health ministry official told ET.

Further, officials familiar with the details said the aim was to complete the first dose for the initial vaccination phase, which will cover 10 m healthcare workers, within four weeks.

The health ministry has circulated detailed directions to states on how to inoculate the identified priority groups just as the first tranche of the Covid-19 vaccines started to reach state capitals. Those directions specify that states must keep four days of the week for administering Covid vaccine.

"Tuesdays and Fridays are usually planned for children’s immunisation drive and other health programmes which are taken door-to-door," an official explained.

Flexibility to Pace Programmes

“States have been asked to follow the routine exercise so that non-Covid healthcare does not suffer,” the official said.

According to sources, the Centre has specified to state governments the number of vaccine doses allocated to each district based on a certain mathematical formula.

"Vaccine doses have been provided district-wise as per the number of beneficiaries registered on Co-WIN app and the case load in the district. The numbers are enough to cover the first dose and any probable wastage," said an official.

The Centre has gone to the extent of telling state governments not to tinker with these allocations and divert doses to other districts based on different considerations.

"There are specific instructions on district-wise allocation because they have been finalised after meticulously studying different factors," an official added.

Though all states will carry out the formal launch on Saturday, the Centre has given them the flexibility to pace their programmes based on local factors as long as they remain within the confines of the broad timeline.