Over Rs 120 crore operational cost for COVID vaccination drive given to states & UTs: Govt

During initial phases, COVID-19 vaccine is being provided to healthcare workers and frontline workers for which, apart from free of cost supply of vaccines, operational cost of Rs 123.49 crore has been released to states and UTs, Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Choubey informed Lok Sabha on Friday.

minister furr said time limit has been set for completion of COVID-19 vaccination drive in any state or UT presently.  immunization drive against vel coronavirus was rolled out from January 16 across country. distribution of vaccines to states and UTs is being done as per beneficiaries' data lo registered on CO-WIN portal, Choubey said in a written reply.

existing infrastructure under Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is being utilized and is simultaneously strengned for smooth movement of COVID-19 vaccines in country. On wher any case of reaction/problem among persons who have been ministered vaccine has been reported so far in country, Choubey said a total of 7,580 verse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) have been reported so far. 

After vaccination, beneficiaries are vised to wait for 30 minutes at session site for observation. vaccination sessions site is also provided with medicine and staff manning session site are trained to man any AEFIs. If required, cases are referred to AEFI manment centres which are usually government health facilities, for furr manment, he said.

On wher any or countries have finalized to import Indian COVID-19 vaccine, Choubey said some countries i.e. Banglesh, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Oman, Bahrain, Mauritius, Seychelles, Brazil, South Africa and Mongolia have finalized to import Indian COVID-19 vaccines, so far.