The Delhi government on Monday issued an order, to enhance the COVID-19 vaccination drive of pregnant and lactating women, which mentioned that they can get these covid shots at health facility sites where they report for their regular check-up on selected days of the week. The vaccination program against coronavirus had begun from January 16 this year. But the pregnant women were made eligible to get a jab just about a month ago.
The order issued by the Delhi health department reads, “In order to enhance coverage of vulnerable cohort of pregnant and lactating women, it is directed that their COVID-19 vaccination may be done at the health facility site where they report for their regular ANC/PNC check-up, on the designated days of the week.” ANC refers to antenatal care an expectant mother needs, while PNC is postnatal care a woman requires after becoming a mother.
“The medical officer and the vaccinator are already present in the health facility along with the vaccines, as these centres also serve as a cold chain points,” the order says. The vaccination shall be done through the Co-WIN portal in walk-in mode. The health department said in its order, all efforts must be made to keep the vaccine wastage to the least and it has been said mentioned that training of vaccinator for conduct of these sessions on Co-WIN must be ensured properly.
It further added, the CDMOs (chief district medical officers) and DIOs (district informatics officers) are requested to issue necessary instructions to the concerned in this regard for immediate operationalization. According to the latest vaccination bulletin issued on Monday, the Delhi government has so far administered 1,06,90,855 Covid vaccines in the city, which includes 77,50,023 first doses and 29,40,832 second doses.
The city government prepared a presentation for a possible third wave of coronavirus and the status of COVID-19 vaccination for which the department showed a presentation in a DDMA meeting held on Friday.
The city has seven-day vaccine stock as on Monday morning, which include 3,55,820 Covaxin shots and 4,30,350 Covieshield jabs. The Delhi health department has told the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) that “it will take another year to vaccinate all eligible beneficiaries aged above 18 in the national capital at “the present rate of COVID-19 vaccine supply”.
