Covid-19 Vaccine In Telangana From Sankranthi

The Telangana government is gearing up to begin immunisation against Covid-19 from Sankranti, that falls in mid-January. The first dose of the vaccine will be administered for 80 lakh people in targeted groups in 8-10 days and the second dose in another four weeks, according to Telangana public health director G. Srinivas. Preparations are in full swing for the vaccination of all targeted and vulnerable groups in the state.

So far, the DCGI has not accorded formal emergency use authorisation to any vaccine but it is being said that Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield are more suitable for Indian conditions.

Though Pfizer has begun distribution of its vaccine in the USA, health authorities in India feel it would be extremely difficult to handle it in India as it requires cold chain maintenance at minus 70 degree Celsius, which would be technically and logistically tough. Moreover, it would be expensive.

The planning, training and strategy to roll out the vaccine are being finalised and hopefully, it would be ready by December end with human resource and infrastructure. The targeted population would be covered in 8-10 days, the health official said.

Telangana is expected to receive 1.6 crore doses of vaccine for 80 lakh people, to be given in two shots. The targeted population include 3 lakh doctors, nurses, ward boys and technicians in hospitals of public and private sector.

The second group are frontline workers, including an estimated 1 lakh police personnel, sanitary workers and defence personnel. The third category is those above 50 years, expected to be 18 per cent of the population and the fourth is those below 50 with comorbidities, which will account for 2-3 per cent of the population.

The officials are focusing on ramping up infrastructure to increase storage capacity. Over 10 new regional vaccine source centres with 1 crore dose capacity will exclusively store Covid-19 vaccines. The central storage facility is also adding capacity for 2 crore doses. New cold chain vans have been ordered for every district to transport the vaccine.

Having undertaken mammoth vaccination drives in the past, the state and the country have trained personnel to administer the vaccine.