-Sagnik Nag, Amity University
With the increasing cases of COVID fever, there’s still hope for upcoming vaccines within a few months. The hope came with a massive responsibility on the Government for mapping out its extensive cold storage to ensure the quick delivery of the vaccine across the country. A national expert group surveyed to identify these cold storage units to store mass-produced vaccines. The survey was conducted on public and private sectors like agro-based industries, pharmaceutical companies, food processing companies and even food delivery startups like Swiggy & Zomato were also informed about this requirement.
A blueprint draft scheme of the vaccine storage and distribution details will be shared very soon, tentatively next week. At least one domestic and two foreign vaccines are very likely to be available but according to professional health experts, mass immunisation by a vaccine for COVID 19 is a massive challenge for which India needs to ramp up with its cold storage facilities and distribution facilities. Pawanexh Kohli, the founding CEO of India’s National Centre for Cold-Chain Development (NCCD), reconfirmed that the protocols will require COVID-19 vaccines are to be kept at 2-9 degree Celsius, while in transportation and storage until successful administration. A bulk of the vaccines will be circulated through the Centre’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) mechanism.
The sources said cold chain storage needs to be increased mostly in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, and Delhi respectively in the same order. The other States that will follow are Assam, Jharkhand, Punjab and Odisha.
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Expertly researched and written. 😄
Detailed and informative ! Keep up the good work 🗒🖋
~Ritwik Karmakar
BA.LL.B. (Hons.)
Amity Law School, Kolkata