Covid vaccine dry run held across state

Tribune News Service

Amritsar/Bathinda/Sangrur/jalandhar, Jan 8

The Health Department today conducted the dry run for the Covid vaccine across various districts in the state.

In Amritsar, the dry run was carried out at three locations —District Hospital, Health Centre at Verka area and Sri Guru Ram Das Hospital at Vallah area. A group of 17 persons, all drawn from the Health Department, were administered the vaccine. Though the state health department had forwarded a list of 25 officials, many of them had already been transferred.

Before being administered the vaccine, their identity proofs were recorded and general health check-up was done.

Civil Surgeon Dr RS Sethi said: “People receive a text message for vaccination. After reaching the hospital, the staff verifies the message and records their identity proof. After confirming good health, they are administered the vaccine and put under observation for 30 minutes.”

He said vaccines could arrive any time, so they had made arrangements at 27 centres, which would be headed by a Senior Medical Officer. “Each centre will have two teams comprising five medical officials. Vaccination will be prioritised. Healthcare professionals, both government and private, will be the first to be vaccinated, then defence personnel, then people stricken with diseases, 50 years and above,” he added.

In Bathinda, ADC Rajdeep Brar oversaw the developments before the vaccine rollout. “The dry run is aimed at preparing ourselves in advance for any possible hurdles during the actual drive,” he said.

Bathinda Civil Surgeon Dr Tejpal Singh Dhillon said: “The dry run was successfully conducted at the district hospital, Delhi heart, superspeciality hospital and CHC Goniana.”

Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr Anjana Gupta said: “We have made all required arrangements. Residents should also help us as the drive needs everyone’s support.” Barnala Civil Surgeon Dr Harinderjit Singh said: “We carried out the drive at the Civil Hospital, Barnala, Tapa and at Mehal Kalan.”

In Jalandhar, 97 volunteers participated in the dry run, which was held in four hospitals — SGL Charitable Hospital, Civil Hospital, Primary Health Centre, Jamsher, and Urban Health Centre, Basti Gujan. While 12,420 health workers have been registered for the first phase of the Covid vaccination programme, 47 teams have been formed (23 for urban areas) to administer the vaccine at 47 centres in the district. Cold chain points have been set up to store over 12 lakh vaccines.