India gearing up for largest vaccination drive; Kerala fully prepared, says Health Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India is set to begin the largest vaccination drive against COVID-19 on January 16. In the first phase, the vaccine will be given to 3 crore health workers and frontline workers. Two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, have been approved for distribution in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the COVID vaccine distribution on Saturday at 10.30 am. The Prime Minister will address 3,006 vaccination centers across the country via video conference.

In Kerala, the vaccination will take place at 133 centers. There will be 12 centers in Ernakulam district and 11 centers each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts. The remaining districts will have nine centers each. Vaccination will be made a reality under the supervision of the Department of Health and in collaboration with various departments in the state, the WHO, UNICEF and UNDP.

A high-level meeting was convened under the leadership of Health Minister KK Shailaja to make a final assessment of the preparations in the districts for COVID vaccination. Collectors of all districts, District Medical Officers, NHM District Program Managers also attended the meeting and reviewed the activities in the districts. The meeting assessed that all the districts were ready for vaccination. The Minister said that the health department has issued guidelines on Kovid safety which must be complied with at vaccination centers.