Steps taken up to accelerate vaccination
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 05 2021:
Days after The People's Chronicle published a report on the slow pace of vaccination potentially jeopardising the target for achieving herd immunity, the state government has adopted several steps to ramp up the ongoing vaccination drive against Covid-19.A circular issued by National Health Mission (NHM) State Mission director Dr N Shyamjai informed that several initiatives have been adopted during a joint meeting with the State Immunisation Officer (SIO), DFWOs, DIOs, and representatives of WHO, UNICEF and UNDP held on Saturday.
The meet agreed to identify Covid vaccination centres (CVCs) from each district (whichever the district feels feasible) and publishing the venues as permanent vaccination centres in print media thereby allowing the public to visit on the scheduled time and get themselves vaccinated.
Some CVCs in the district shall be reserved exclusively for the 18-44 years age group to enable vaccination of maximum beneficiaries through online appointment on weekdays.
In case of hill districts where there is connectivity issue, a reserved session or walk-in registration may be allowed.
In this regard, DFWOs/DIOs will coordinate with SIO and finalise the permanent CVCs.
Few CVCs will function on outreach mode to allow vaccination of maximum beneficiaries (45+) .
The step is taken up in view of the some areas where community members are facing difficulties in reaching to the CVCs due to non-availability of transport, health issues among others.
These CVCs will have a community-based vaccination approach where sessions can be conducted at non-health facilities-based setting like community halls, schools or public places with adequate space.
DFWOs/DIOs may approach the local MLAs/ DCs/local clubs for logistics support, suitable location and mobilisation of beneficiaries to maximise vaccination of the target population without compromising the CVC criteria.
Such sites should be registered in CoWIN portal.
A mechanism will be worked out soon to initiate and ensure vaccination of elderly and differently-abled citizens to have Near-to-Home COVID Vaccination Centres (NHVCC) for easier access.
In the meantime, differently abled persons are now allowed for spot registration and accord priority to get vaccine at their nearest vaccination centres.
In this connection, DFWOs/DIOs are advised to convey the relaxation of prior online registration for differently abled person to all the CVC teams of their respective districts, the circular detailed.
As per the coverage data and the ground situation, eagerness for vaccination is poor in rural areas and hills districts.
In this regard, DWOs/DIOs are requested to ramp up necessary activities to generate mass awareness on COVID-19 vaccination through local clubs, CSOs, Community Based Organisation (CBOs) and churches, it said.
Dr Shyamjai further stated that DW- FOs/DIOs shall open more CVCs either in HWCs or suitable sites in their respective districts to maximise vaccination of eligible population.
This will reduce overcrowding and workload of HCWs in the existing CVCs, it added.