COVID-19 Updates
India began a two-day COVID-19 dummy vaccination drive in four states-Punjab, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, aimed at testing India’s vaccine delivery system and other logistics.
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What was done in the COVID-19 vaccination dry run?
- The district received the dummy vaccination for 100 beneficiaries from the nearest depot.
- The temperature was tracked from the depot to the vaccination site through the vaccine’s journey.
- In advance SMS were sent to them with the name of the vaccinator and the time of the immunization.
- After simulating the administration of the vaccine, each beneficiary was asked to sit for 30 mins.
Also, infection control practices were followed at the site to prevent Coronavirus transmission. All these were being monitored, tracked, and taken into consideration by the Central committee observing the dry-run.
India's COVID-19 vaccine: Who will get it, when and how?
The DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) has given their consent for two Coronavirus vaccines, creating it India’s first vaccination against the pandemic. Here’s all you need to know about the vaccination process.
India approved two COVID-19 vaccines that are Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield for crisis purposes.
Type of vaccine
The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold adenovirus that can cause infections in chimpanzees.
Dosage, duration, protection, and storage
The Subject Expert Committee has recommended the approval of two full doses of the vaccine delivered around 4-6 weeks apart. Immune response could last at least a year and the vaccine can be stored at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin
Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the ICMR developed Covaxin .
Type of vaccine
Covaxin is an “inactivated” vaccine which is made by particles of coronavirus that were killed. Injecting particular doses builds immunity by helping the body to create antibodies against the deadly virus.
Dosage, duration, protection, and storage
The vaccine will be given in two doses and stored at 2-8° degrees Celsius. While the DCGI has not clarified the intervals in between the shots, Bharat Biotech earlier said that the efficacy will be determined only after 14 days post the second dose.
Zydus Cadila ZyCov-D vaccine
Zydus Cadila received the drug regulator’s signal to initiate Phase III clinical trials with around 30,000 volunteers.
Type of vaccination
Zydus Cadila’s ZyCov-D is a “plasmid DNA” vaccine. These DNA vaccinations use genetically engineered plasmids–DNA type molecules–that are coded with the antigen against which the immune response is to be built. The DNA sequence injected would match that of the coronavirus, helping the body build antibodies against it.
Effectiveness
The company said the vaccine was found to be safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic in the Phase I/II clinical trials, which was conducted on around 1,000 volunteers.
Who will get the vaccine first?
Healthcare workers
- According to the recommendations of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 health workers working for both government and private hospitals will be first in the line.
- This group has been further divided into sub-categories as frontline workers , nurses and supervisors, paramedical staff, medical officers, Integrated Child Development Services workers, and medical students.
- All the information (data) has been collected from the healthcare facilities and is being uploaded into Co-WIN.
Frontline workers
Frontline workers employed with central and state Police services, armed forces, civil defence organisation , home guard, prison staff, disaster management ,municipal workers, revenue officials working with Covid-19 surveillance and other associated activities.
People aged above 50 years
- This group will be further divided into people above the age of 50 years and 60 years with co-morbidities.
- Age criteria will be calculated on the basis of the cutoff date of 1st January 2021.
Areas that are recording high Covid-19 infection rate
States can do priority phasing of vaccine roll out in geographical areas where the infection is high.
Remaining population
Population below 50 years of age based on the emerging pandemic situation like diabetes, cancer and lung diseases etc and finally to the remaining population based on the disease epidemiology and vaccine availability.
How can you register for the COVID-19 Vaccine?
- Self-register on the CoWIN Website (the system that will track the beneficiaries and also the vaccines, at the national, state and district level).
- Upload the required document.
- After registration, date and time will be allocated for vaccination
- There will be no immediate registration and only pre-registered beneficiaries will be allowed to proceed for the vaccination.
Note: Pre-registration on the Co-Win will be required for vaccination and there will be no on-the-spot registrations at the vaccination sites.
