APNew Delhi: Ahead of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, health ministers of several states raised serious concerns on Thursday over issues such as internet connectivity, software glitches in remote areas and infrastructure bottlenecks in carrying out this mammoth exercise. Some of them also asked the Centre to arrange for air ambulances to deal with any 'adverse events' from immunisation. The issues were flagged at a meeting headed by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan with state health ministers ahead of a nation-wide dry run on Friday.
In the virtual meeting, Jammu & Kashmir lieutenant governor’s representative pointed out that since the Union Territory has only 2G connectivity, officials are finding it difficult to update the software. It was suggested that an alternate offline mechanism be drawn up so that data on vaccine beneficiaries could be updated later. CoWin, the electronic system put in place by the health ministry, requires live updating of data as soon as the beneficiary walks into the vaccination centre. This includes verification of identity documents that are to be uploaded in the system once the vaccine is administered.
Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo also pointed out similar issues, especially in remote tribal-dominated areas where there is no mobile connectivity. He also said the state needs guidelines for common service centres that would double up as vaccination centres with no internet connectivity. “We have conducted dry runs in tribal areas and faced network connectivity issues in Konta and Sukma. We need proper guidelines on how to handle inoculation there,” he told ET adding that the Centre also needs to clarify whether the states could use air ambulances in case of adverse events from immunisation in remote areas lacking in medical care.
Telangana health minister Eatala Rajender is believed to have raised the issue of software glitches in half of the districts in his state during the previous dry run. “We are facing software glitches in 14 out of 31 districts in Telangana. We are in touch with the Centre and hope these are sorted out in time,” the minister said. Several ministers also wanted to know when they will have clarity on the number of doses. Almost all states sought a detailed timeline with exact dates on when the vaccines would reach them, along with the expected quantum.
In the virtual meeting, Jammu & Kashmir lieutenant governor’s representative pointed out that since the Union Territory has only 2G connectivity, officials are finding it difficult to update the software. It was suggested that an alternate offline mechanism be drawn up so that data on vaccine beneficiaries could be updated later. CoWin, the electronic system put in place by the health ministry, requires live updating of data as soon as the beneficiary walks into the vaccination centre. This includes verification of identity documents that are to be uploaded in the system once the vaccine is administered.
Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo also pointed out similar issues, especially in remote tribal-dominated areas where there is no mobile connectivity. He also said the state needs guidelines for common service centres that would double up as vaccination centres with no internet connectivity. “We have conducted dry runs in tribal areas and faced network connectivity issues in Konta and Sukma. We need proper guidelines on how to handle inoculation there,” he told ET adding that the Centre also needs to clarify whether the states could use air ambulances in case of adverse events from immunisation in remote areas lacking in medical care.
Telangana health minister Eatala Rajender is believed to have raised the issue of software glitches in half of the districts in his state during the previous dry run. “We are facing software glitches in 14 out of 31 districts in Telangana. We are in touch with the Centre and hope these are sorted out in time,” the minister said. Several ministers also wanted to know when they will have clarity on the number of doses. Almost all states sought a detailed timeline with exact dates on when the vaccines would reach them, along with the expected quantum.
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