THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dry run for vaccines has been started in four districts of the state. The procedure was commenced in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Idukki and Wayanad districts. It will be held till 11 am. 25 health workers each will participate in every district for the procedure.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the dry run will be held in Peroorkada district hospital under the direct supervision of health minister K K Shylaja. As of now, 3.13 lakh people are registered in the state for the vaccine. In the first phase, health workers and related staff in private and government hospitals will be vaccinated. Certain private hospitals are yet to transfer the number of staff to be vaccinated, once it is received then the total number of people to be vaccinated in the state will be known.

The health minister has said that the dry run is a preparedness exercise meant for distributing vaccines in a proper procedure once the vaccines are received. “Kerala is fully prepared. The expected vaccine is Covishield, developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca. The centre has informed that the vaccine would be delivered to the state within two or three days. An official message in this regard is yet to be received,” she said.

Experts say that Covishield does not have any side effects and the vaccines will be distributed on a priority basis. All necessary measures had been taken for this purpose in every district. It cannot be said how many vaccines will be received to Kerala. Health workers alone account for 3 lakh. A large number of vaccines will be required. The health minister also expressed hope that the central government will give the necessary number of vaccines to the state.

“It is wrong to say that Kerala has the largest number of Covid patients in the country. Kerala has tried its best to reduce the number of cases since the initial days itself. In certain states, when the number of cases spiked death rate also increased proportionately but in Kerala due to stringent and disciplines measures the cases were reduced. A high rate of transmission has occurred in Kerala only now,” she added. The health minister also reiterated that as the transmission rates are high in Kerala, the state deserves a large number of vaccines.