Page 16 - NIS English February1-15

Interview Dr V K Paul

On selection of the primary group for the vaccine, or as an expert,
would you like to add something else?
I have to say that vaccination drive is starting off from health workers
because they are more prone to infection. They have risked their lives
to save others. We need a safe and motivated health team. After this it
is the turn of frontline workers. Then people over the age of 50 will be
vaccinated. IT is being used for this and planning is being done at the
booth level like in elections, like how people go to booth to cast their
votes, similarly vaccination will also take place. Follow-up will be done
after vaccination and people will be reminded about other procedures.

the present requirements. Personnel involved The Central Government set a great example of
in vaccination programme were given training. federal structure by taking States along, were
With the help of IT platform, infrastructure and there any differences or lack in coordination?
cold chain management planning was done at There were no differences. In the methodology
micro level. The same technique will be used to of dealing with Corona, there has been no dearth
identify beneficiaries, deciding upon the place of consensus. Every time general opinion was
and time of the vaccine and maintaining the to go ahead with the vaccine. All this has
trust of the people. been done under the leadership of the Prime
Minister. Representatives and Chief Ministers
What else was done to increase the number of and Union Territories have worked like Team
cold chain facilities? India and will do so even in future.
If you talk about expansion of cold chain, we
had 4 large and around 35 second category What will be the total expenditure on vaccine?
medical depots, a total of 39. Now, the second It may not be fair to talk about expenditure right
category depots have also been made like the now. Presently, small number of vaccines has
first ones, and with some new arrangements been purchased; we will buy more in future.
the number of such cold stores has increased Expenses are incurred not only for the vaccine.
to 60. It means that the number of the first Spending also happens for vaccine publicity
category ones has increased to 60. Thereafter, and awareness campaigns and syringes etc.
there will be more than 29,000 cold chain points When the work is huge, there are other expenses
which will be used during vaccination. as well. But there’s no two ways about it that
there will be no cutback in resources.
It is a massive challenge to ensure that everyone
gets vaccinated. How will the Government deal India’s efforts in its fight against Corona and
with it? formulation of the vaccine have been lauded
Such a huge vaccination drive is a big challenge by WHO and other countries. How do you look
in itself. Around 30 Crore people will be at it as an expert?
vaccinated in the first phase of vaccination. I am immensely satisfied with India’s
But there will be a need to vaccinate even more achievement in the fight against Corona. In the
people. Vaccine availability is still low. early stages itself, isolation wards and beds
were prepared for Corona patients. We didn’t
What is the probability of the next phase being make PPE kits and ventilators before, but now
started? we are exporting them. Starting from zero, we
It will take around seven to eight months to have now reached the capacity to test more
meet the target of 30 Crore. With the increased than 15 Lakh people every day. Lockdown
availability of vaccine, the vaccination drive helped to reduce rate of infection and to halt
may also go at a faster pace later on. the mortality rate up to 1.4 per cent.

14 New India Samachar