Assam preparing to administer doses of anti-COVID vaccine

* Drive to be carried out between January & July 2021

* Frontline workers & people above 60 to get priority

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam has started implementing the Centre's guidelines to carry out the COVID-19 vaccination drive from the first part of 2021.

The Union Health Ministry has already held several consultations through videoconference with the State Health Department to undertake the anti-COVID vaccination drive between January and July 2021. The vaccine from six to seven sources and the drive will be carried out with a mix of vaccines instead of a single one.

Sources said that a high-level committee — comprising senior officials of the State Health Department and National Health Mission (NHM), Assam — has been constituted to execute the Centre's guidelines for the vaccination drive.

Besides the frontline workers the people above 60 years of age will get priority in the anti-COVID vaccination drive.

"A robust mechanism for the storage of vaccines and maintenance of cold chains will be required. The Centre is planning to provide bulk storage cold chain equipment for vaccine storage to Assam and other North Eastern States," the source said.

The State Health department will also take necessary steps to deal with side effects of COVID-19 vaccination.

"The preparations are underway for conducting COVID-19 vaccinations in the States and districts, starting with certain priority groups. In connection with this, steps need to be taken to strengthen Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) surveillance following COVID-19 vaccinations to maintain confidence in the safety of vaccines," stated a recent letter from the Union Health Ministry to the NHM, Assam.

The Union Ministry has also asked Assam to include medical specialists in addition to pediatricians in the State and district AEFI committees.

"The COVID-19 vaccinations will be given to adults, many of whom may have comorbidities. Events due to pre-existing comorbidities (stroke, heart attacks etc) may be reported as AEFIs following COVID-19 vaccinations. Membership of state AEFI committees should be revised to include neurologists, cardiologists, respiratory medicine specialists who can recognise such events and differentiate them from events related to vaccines/vaccinations. Similarly, directions may be issued to districts to include medical specialists (neurologists, cardiologists) in the district AEFI committees," the letter said.

Sources said that the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) will function as the State AFEI Technical Collaborating Centre in conducting the rapid causality assessment, case investigations in districts, laboratory tests in certain.

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