In UP, vaccination at 317 centres

State has received 10,55,500 Covishield and 20,000 Covaxin doses

LUCKNOW : The Covid-19 vaccination will begin at 317 vaccination centres in Uttar Pradesh after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on Saturday and cover 31,700 health workers in the state between 9am and 5pm.

“The prime minister will address health staff and launch the vaccination drive. The prime minister may talk to the vaccinators or the beneficiaries at Varanasi and Jhansi (via twoway webcast). The vaccine is safe for all,” said health minister JP Singh at a press conference here on Friday.

He also said, “The state has received 10,55,500 Covishield and 20,000 Covaxin (doses).”

Asked who would take the jab, apart from the health workers, the minister said, “As per the guidelines, after about 9 lakh health workers, about 18 lakh frontline workers will be vaccinated and gradually others will be registered for vaccination. The entire process will be done via the Co-Win portal.”

All 12 places where the vaccination will take place in Lucknow would have webcast of PM’s address. At two places in Jhansi and Varanasi, two-way communication facility has been set up.

All safety protocols, including Covid appropriate behaviour, will be strictly followed at the vaccination sites during the vaccination. Complete security around storage, transportation

and session sites will be ensured. CCTV cameras had been installed at all the 1,298 cold chain points, Singh said.

Additional chief secretary (health and family welfare) Amit Mohan Prasad said each vaccination session would have a five-member team, including security guards, verifier, vaccinator, mobiliser and support staff.

“Each team of vaccinators will have an additional vaccinator who would get trained,” he said.

A maximum of 100 people will be vaccinated in each session. The state had identified 1,500 centres for vaccination in the first phase, said Prasad. He said the entire spectrum of health care, including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff would be part of the first day’s vaccination.

Dr MK Singh, in-charge of immunisation in the state capital, said, “Once the process goes off smoothly on Day One, the number of centres will be increased on the later days.”

The 12 centres that will conduct the vaccination in the state capital on the first day are King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Veerangana Avantibai Hospital, Balrampur Hospital, Lokbandhu Hospital, community health centres at Mal and Mohanlalganj, TS Mishra Medical College. Era Medical College and two private hospitals will also conduct the vaccination.

The King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has finalised the names of 100 beneficiaries, who will be vaccinated on the first day.