Following the instructions of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar today held a teleconference with all the district Collectors of the state, to review the preparations for the launch of the upcoming state-wide Covid-19 immunisation program, which is likely to start by Pongal.
At the meeting, the Chief Secretary spoke about the rollout of the vaccination drive, which will be conduced in a phased manner first covering all the "frontline warriors" including health workers, police personnel and sanitation workers from government as well as private facilities.
(Earlier in the month, Kumar had already instructed the concerned officials to prepare a database of the "frontline warriors" in the state for the drive.)
He then directed the Collectors to ensure that the necessary arrangements were being made at the identified vaccine launch sites in each of their respective districts, as per the guidelines issued to them. He asked them to inspect especially closely, the efficacy of the health facilities that had been set up to deal with any cases of adverse side effects in those vaccinated.
The Collectors were also asked to appoint Special Officers at each launch site to oversee the arrangements there, and to keep some reserve vaccinators at each site as well.
They were then instructed to facilitate the vaccination of the pre-identified beneficiaries on a priority through networks of district officials.
Kumar also advised the officials to schedule a small number of vaccinations at each site on the first day in order to gain insight into the process, and to then ramp up the numbers on the following days based on their initial experience.
Considering the importance of the programme, Kumar strongly urged all the public representatives in the state to participate actively in its organisation and implementation to ensure the successful administration of the vaccine.
The Telangana government had earlier announced that
5 lakh people would be immunised against the virus in the first phase of the drive over eight to ten days. On the first day, 13,900 people will reportedly be receiving the Covid-19 shot at 139 centres across the state.