With a desire of moving ahead with a COVID vaccination in near future as a result of trials reaching progressive stages, the Punjab government has commenced an exercise to consolidate the database of health care workers (HCW). This began after the centre recently stated that the HCW of both the government and private facilities may be prioritized for the vaccination, once the vaccine becomes accessible.

Punjab secretary Health cum Mission Director National Health Mission Kumar Rahul in a letter to all deputy commissioners and civil surgeons across the state asserted that all the districts need to assure that every facility within the district fills up detail of all healthcare workers (HCW) linked with it, in a standard template and submit it back to the district.

Union Health Ministry secretary Rajesh Bhusan stated on October 16, that the union health ministry was in the process of preparing a database of HCW of government and private facilities who maybe selected for receiving the first round of COVID-19 vaccine once it is accessible. Mission Director National Health Mission, Kumar Rahul also wrote that after acquiring the complete dataset from the facilities, the district will upload the template on COVID-19 vaccination Beneficiary Management system (CVBMS) for which guidelines will be shared later.

During the pandemic 13 health officials, including a doctor, pharmacy officers, and multipurpose health worker (both male and female), ASHA (accredited social health activist) have died after contracting the infection in Punjab. More than 1200 health officials, who have been on the frontline to confront the pandemic have been mainly infected in the state. According to Punjab’s nodal officer for COVID, Dr Rajesh Bhaskar, the exact details collected designation-wise from those contaminated from health department were in the process of being compiled, with the preponderance of those infected include multi-purpose health workers and ASHA.

Punjab ASHA worker Union president Kirandeep Kaur Panjola stated that atleast 500 ASHA workers were infected before they stopped getting tasted. As per the official website of WHO, there are presently more than 100 COVID 19 vaccine candidates under development with a number of them in human trial phases. The WHO is working in cooperation with scientists, business community, investors and global health organizations through the ACT (access to Covid19 tools) accelerator to speed up the response to pandemic. When a safe and effective vaccine is found, COVAX (a global cooperation) led by WHO, GAVI (global alliance for vaccine and Immunization) and CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic preparedness innovation) will coordinate the equitable access and distribution of the vaccine to protect people in all countries. Among others, Bharat Biotech, and Zydus Cadilla are in various stages of clinical trials to develop the vaccine.

The author is a student member of Amity Centre of Happiness.