Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said Covid-19 vaccine will be provided to people in the national Capital for free once it arrives, and asserted that the city Government has made preparations for the vaccination drive.
Jain reviewed the dry run of the Covid-19 vaccination process at the Daryaganj dispensary. He said the Delhi Government has made preparations to vaccinate one lakh people in a day.
The dry run was organised at three places which included GTB Hospital in Shahdara, Venkateshwara Hospital, Dwarka and Primary Health Centre, Daryaganj.
“This is not the trial run for the vaccine but of its vaccination process. Preparations have been done in Delhi for the roll-out of the vaccine, from storage to the application. Around 1000 centres will be set up,” said the Health Minister.
“There are three types of centres - Government hospital, private hospital and dispensaries. The purpose of conducting the dry run at three different types of centres was to review the system set up in each. The system is flawless,” he said.
“The Delhi Government is fully prepared to roll out the vaccine to 1 lakh people on a daily basis. Initially, it will be rolled out to healthcare and front line workers, along-with people over the age of 50 or with co-morbidity. Almost 51 lakh people will be injected in the first phase. The vaccine will be provided free of cost to people in Delhi once it arrives,” the Health Minister added.
Responding to queries surrounding side effects of the vaccine, Jain said they have set up monitoring stations at all locations.
“Around 10 patients will be admitted at a time following all norms of social distancing. When the vaccination is applied, the person will be put under observation for 30 minutes. Every centre has been linked to a hospital. In case any patient shows any kind of discomfort, an emergency room has also been set up. Along with this, the patient will be sent to nearby hospitals, if need be,” said the Health Minister.
“Delhi saw 585 cases on Friday. The positivity rate was 0.73 per cent and is continuously on the decline. Very soon, the number of cases too will come under 500. Even after reducing the availability of beds, 10,500-11,000 beds are still vacant,” said Jain.
“Only 2,000 beds are occupied at present. As far as the new strain is concerned, 40 cases have been traced and have been admitted to LNJP Hospital. Along with this, four private hospitals too, have been authorised. We are well aware and fully prepared to combat any situation,” Jain said.
A video conference was held under the chairmanship of the Delhi health secretary on Friday for conducting a dry run for Covid vaccination at three selected sites, one each in Central District, Shahdara District and South West district.
From installing freezers to setting up cold chain equipment, arrangements are being made at a Delhi Government hospital here for storing the vaccine, whenever it arrives.
The Delhi Government is fully prepared to receive, store and administer Covid-19 vaccine to 51 lakh priority category persons in the city in the first phase of vaccination, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said on December 24.
These persons include the healthcare workers, frontline workers, people aged above 50 and those below 50 years but with co-morbidities.