Tamil Nadu Government Deserves Highest Appreciation: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan After Reviewing COVID Vaccination Dry Run

Chennai: During his visit to Tamil Nadu to review the COVID-19 vaccination dry run on Friday (January 8), Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami-led government and the state health department deserve the highest appreciation for good work that they have been doing to combat coronavirus. “I sincerely appreciate the exemplary work done by the Tamil Nadu government in collaboration with the Centre in fighting COVID-19. Tamil Nadu government and its health department deserve our highest appreciation for good work that they have been doing and are pursuing,” Dr Vardhan told reporters here.

Also Read: Experts Explain The Objective Behind India’s COVID Vaccine Dry Run

As a nationwide dry run is being conducted across 33 states and Union Territories today (January 8), Dr Vardhan arrived in Chennai to personally review the dry run for administering COVID-19 vaccine in Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, the Union Minister visited the Session Site in Government General Hospital and Session Site at government Omandurar hospital. In Chennai, Dr Vardhan visited Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to review the dry run for administering COVID-19 vaccine and Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital. He also inspected cold storage for COVID-19 vaccine in the city during his visit. He met Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at Tamil Nadu Secretariat.

Also Read: India’s COVID Vaccination Programme Explained: Who Will Get It First, What Is The Process And Other Things You Need To Know

“Had a pleasant beginning to an important day! Thank you, Dr Vijayabaskar Ji, for the warm greetings. In Chennai to review the dry run of administering COVID-19 vaccine. The mock drill is being carried out across the country today,” the Union Minister tweeted.

The dry run is aimed at testing the laid out mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in the health system. It will also help to assess operational feasibility of using Co-WIN application in a field environment for planning, implementation and reporting at the block, district and state level.

Also Read: India’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Explained: What Is Co-WIN Vaccine Delivery Management System, All You Need To Know

According to the health ministry, the objective of the mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination is to simulate the actual vaccine administration event.

COVID-19 vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have been granted permission by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for restricted use in an emergency situation. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the mock drill was conducted at BKC Jumbo dedicated COVID-19 hospital, where 25 healthcare workers have been selected for dry-run for vaccine administration.

A total of 15 vaccination units have been set up here. 25 healthcare workers selected for today’s dry-run for vaccine administration. A counsellor is appointed to counsel those fearing vaccination, said Dr Rajesh Dere, vaccination centre in-charge at BKC hospital.

The dry was conducted at the civil hospital in Punjab’s Mohali, where Nodal officer, Dr Sandeep informed ANI that vaccine dry run was also conducted with 25 volunteers as per the orders given by the administration. The second dry run for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is also underway at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

Also Read: India Gears Up For Second Massive COVID Vaccine Rollout Dry Run On January 8: Experts Explain The Preparedness

(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.