Covid-19 vaccine will be first administered to health care workers: Eatala Rajender

The Telangana State is well prepared to take-up administration of the Covid-19 vaccine in the coming months. The logistics related to the cold chain management of the vaccine, till it is administered to health care workers in the first phase is also sorted-out, State Health Minister, Eatala Rajender on Monday said.

The moment the State gets access, the roll-out of the vaccine will be completed without much delay. The challenges in cold chain management of the vaccine, which involves maintaining the vaccine at a constant temperature advised by the vaccine manufacturer till it is administered to the individuals, have been addressed in Telangana State, Rajender said.

In the initial phases, the Covid-19 vaccine will be administered to health care workers and later will be expanded to other high risk groups including people aged above 60 years, persons with pre-existing conditions and aged above 50 years, individuals who literally form the first line of defence against Covid including hospital sanitation staff and police personnel.

The State health authorities have already prepared a list of health care



workers from public and private health care sector who will be the first recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine. The list was forwarded to MOHFW, New Delhi which is expected to release the Covid-19 vaccine doses, based on the list of the beneficiaries, as and when it is available.

The Telangana State ranks best amongst other Indian States for its efficient implementation of Mission Indradhanush, the MOHFW initiative aimed at boosting the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). The administration process of the Covid-19 vaccine is expected to utilise the already existing Mission Indradhanush network across Telangana State.

Recently, a three-member expert team from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), New Delhi had conducted a dry run to test the efficacy of indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccination software in Hyderabad.

Termed as COVIN, the Covid-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (COVIN) software is being tested at the Bogulkunta Primary Health Centre. Once a Covid-19 vaccine is available, its administration will be based on the Covid software.