For the vaccination drive towards protection from the Covid19, the deliberations by the high-level National Expert Vaccine Group on Vaccine Administration are significant at present.

A detailed blueprint for the preparation of backend operation is underway for the largest immunization drive. It comes at a time when the Centre expects to receive and utilize 400-500 million doses of vaccine and cover approximately 20-25 crore people by July 2021.

Days before vaccination, an SMS would be delivered to the beneficiary. It would be detailing the time and place. There would also be a QR code certificate, which would be generated after each dose. Health facilities involving the large network of schools, on the lines of elections, would be involved in the immunization drive to ensure a speedy access to the vaccine.

These are some of the key features discussed in detail by an expert group, which is currently developing the blueprint for conducting the country’s largest immunization drive against Covid19 early next year. The vaccination drive will not be confined to existing health facilities, but will also be extended to schools, on the lines of election booths.

Around 400-500 million vaccine doses are expected to be received and utilized by the Centre to cover 20-25 crore people by July 2021. GOI has sought data from states on priority groups for need of vaccine, and it has also indicated that healthcare professionals would be among the early recipients.

A key feature will be added to the eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network), an indigenously developed technology that tracks vaccine stocks digitally. This feature will track the beneficiary, the person who will be vaccinated. There are around 28,000 cold chain storage facilities covered under the eVIN and the network facility is expected to be augmented.

The vaccination drive will be conducted in different phases and will also include multiple doses. An electronic platform is being developed where vaccination sessions can be scheduled and it will communicate with the beneficiary through SMS. It will also provide the QR code certificate after vaccination. It would have similarities to the Digi-Locker developed under the MEITY Ministry.