PANAJI: Goa shouldn’t have difficulty in storing the Covid-19 vaccine safely as “adequate facilities” are available in the state, dean of Goa Medical College (GMC) and incharge of the state’s
Covid hospitals, Dr S M Bandekar said on Tuesday.
“If required, added infrastructure will be set-up. Plus, the government will offer industrial refrigeration solutions,” Bandekar said.
‘Goa has always met vaccination targets in past’
He was talking about the state's preparedness in handling the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Vaccination will be done as per the protocol set by the central government while logistics will be raised by the state government, he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a meeting via video conferencing with all chief ministers to assess the status of Covid -19 in India and Covid-19 vaccine delivery, distribution and administration.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said that the Covid-19 vaccine would be available after January, and that Modi has laid emphasis on making it available as soon as possible. “Preparation for the distribution of the vaccine has started,” he said. “The PM has guided us.”
Sawant said that Modi has asked states to put in place systems for proper distribution. “Even if we don't know when the vaccine will be made available to the public or whether the vaccine will be made in India or abroad, the PM has asked states to submit in writing their preparedness for distribution,” he said.
A senior health official said that Goa’s health services should be able to conduct the vaccination programme whenever it is rolled out.
The state has a robust network of primary health centers, rural medical dispensaries and community health centres coupled with well-trained health workers.
“We have always been on target in completing vaccination programmes in the past. We have the best public health care facilities. We have manpower to execute the programme within the deadline. At the most, staff may need little added training for the new vaccine,” he said.
The video conference was attended by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union home minister Amit Shah, and all chief ministers.
“We have to maintain a cold chain system in the state, and the public will have to take two doses of the vaccine with a four-week gap between doses," Sawant said.
“Priority will be given to health workers, Covid warriors, senior citizens who have completed 65 years, and those having comorbid conditions. Only then will the rest of the public get the vaccine. It was also discussed at the meeting with the Prime Minister whether the vaccine would be made available free of cost,” the chief minister said.
On November 23, TOI had reported on its frontpage that India is likely to get the first lot of anti-Covid shots in late January-early February, which will allow some frontline workers to get it.