Covid vaccine: Only 100 may get jab per day at each site, says govt

BENGALURU: Unlike regular immunisation drives that see hundreds of people being vaccinated in a day, the government’s plans for Covid-19 vaccination indicate that each site will be able to give anti-corona shots to only 100 per day. Community halls and makeshift tents may be utilised for vaccination at a later stage.
From dedicated hospitals for ‘adverse events following immunisation’ (AEFI) to identification of specific vaccinations sites to meet requirements for Covid inoculation, states are ramping up infrastructure based on an SOP issued by the health ministry.

According to the draft SOP shared with the states on Thursday, each vaccination site will have five vaccination officers, including a guard, and three rooms, one each for waiting, vaccination and observation.
People to be monitored for 30 mins after inoculation
Each person who gets the vaccine will be mandatorily kept under observation for 30 minutes to check for AEFI and those developing severe aftereffects will be shifted to hospital identified by state.
Dr Rajani N, one of the immunisation officers who attended the two-day workshop organised by the ministry, said: “The decision to have three rooms for vaccination is keeping in mind the need for social distancing. While the vaccination room will see only one person enter at each time, the waiting and observation room will have seating for multiple people.”
She said given the limitations caused by social distancing, it has been decided that only 13-14 people will be administered the vaccine every hour. “It has been decided, for now, that not more than 100 will be vaccinated per day per site given the logistical constraints,” she said.
Of the five vaccine officers at each site, the guard will have the responsibility of cross-checking beneficiaries’ names on the list, and ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour. The other officers will check for government IDs, cross reference that with the CO-WIN app, ensure privacy of the beneficiary, ensure there is a female attendant if a male vaccinator is on duty, enable safe injection practices and help manage waste.