First Batch Of COVID-19 Vaccine Covishield Vials Reaches Delhi’s Central Storage Facility

New Delhi: The first batch of Covishield vaccine vials reached Delhi’s central storage facility at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH) Tuesday (January 12) afternoon, officials said. RGSSH Medical Director B L Sherwal said around 2.50 lakh doses of the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine were delivered to the hospital. A SpiceJet flight carrying the vials landed at the Delhi airport around 10 am on Tuesday (January 12), four days ahead of the launch of a nationwide drive against the coronavirus. Thereafter, the Delhi Police formed a “green corridor” to safely transport the vaccine to the hospital, the Delhi government’s largest COVID-19 facility.

Also Read: Centre To Bear Expenses For First Round Of Vaccination, Jabs For 30 Crore In First Few Months: PM Modi

The truck carrying the vaccine arrived at the hospital around 3:10 pm, a source said.

A special cold storage facility has been created at RGSSH to store the vials. Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport) Rajeev Ranjan said adequate security arrangements have been made at the storage site, and PCR vans will also cover them in their patrolling plans. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahadra) Amit Sharma said,

We have deployed the personnel at the storage area of the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital.

From RGSSH, the vaccine will be transported in a special vehicle under heavy security to the vaccination centres. The Delhi government has identified 89 sites in the national capital, including government and private hospitals, for the first phase of the immunisation drive meant for about three lakh healthcare workers. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Sadarjung Hospital, LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, Apollo Hospitals and Max Hospital will be among the vaccination centres here. The vaccination roll-out is expected to be kicked off from the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital On January 16 with a simple ceremony in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain, sources said.

India’s drugs regulator has approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. Covishield vaccine doses will be initially shipped to 60 consignee points from where those would be distributed to various vaccination centres across India, official sources said.

Also Read: Russian COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik V Meets Primary Safety Endpoint In Phase-2 Clinical Trials In India

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.