The Centre on Tuesday said the need to vaccinate the entire population to combat Covid-19 may not arise “if we’re able to vaccinate a critical mass of people and break virus transmission”.
“Vaccination would depend on the efficacy of the vaccine and our purpose is to break the chain of Covid transmission,” ICMR DG Balram Bhargava said even as Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asserted that the Government never spoke of vaccinating the entire country. The health officials were addressing a Press conference here.
“I just want to make this clear that the Government has never spoken about vaccinating the entire country. It’s important that we discuss such scientific issues, based on factual information only,” said the Health Secretary on being asked how much time it will take to vaccinate the entire country.
On Monday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the Central Government plans to provide coronavirus vaccines to around 25-30 crore people by July-August next year.
“In the first 3-4 months of next year, there is a possibility that we will be able to provide vaccine to the people of the country. By July-August, we have a plan to provide vaccine to around 25-30 crore people and we are preparing accordingly,” Vardhan had said.
Sources said as per suggestions by the Centre, the States/UTs are in the midst of submitting the database of different groups, particularly,
doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and those above 60 years who would receive Covid-19 vaccine on a priority basis when the vaccine becomes available.
The States have also been asked to set up a task force under the chairmanship of State Chief Secretary on the same lines as National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration (NEGVAC) at the Centre so that they can take up the task of vaccinating priority groups as soon as the vaccine is ready for use.
The official said the States have also been asked to take stock of cold chain and refrigerated vans available in their respective States for universal immunisation programme so that the same can be used for Covid-19 vaccine administration.
The Centre has also written to all States and Union Territories to identify such people to utilise them during the mass Covid-19 vaccination drive. Among a list of categories who would qualify as potential vaccinators and will be trained accordingly are MBBS doctors, BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) doctors, staff nurses (those who have BSc Nursing), Auxillary Nurse Midwives of different grades, pharmacists, those students who are interning during their MBBS course, and also BDS (dentists) interns.