Bihar DM forms eight cells to ensure transparent COVID vaccination

Bihar District Magistrate DM Chandrashekhar Singh formed eight cells to ensure the hassle-free rollout of vaccination drive for the healthcare workers at 16 selected sites in Patna district on January 16.

These cells are to look after site management, law and order, storage and transportation of vaccines, adverse event following immunization (AEFI), information, education and communication (IEC) activity, immunization and training, CoWIN portal and control room.

Each cell comprises ADM-rank official, sadar district officer, block district officer, district immunization officer and health personnel to discharge different responsibilities throughout the drive.

Singh told this newspaper that the site management cell will be set up at the district health office in Patna to see the preparations at different vaccine centres. “The team will ensure the availability of furniture, internet connectivity, entry and exit points, hand sanitisers, vaccine opening devices, syringes, biomedical waste management and dustbin at the vaccine centres. Other preparations at the three-room set up — one waiting room, one vaccination room and an observation room — will also be managed by this team,” he said.

The immunization and training cell will organize a workshop at district and block level and to ensure the availability of vaccinators at different selected sites. The storage and transportation cell will be operated by the State Health Society. It will ensure the storage of vaccine in cold-chain storage from district to block level and delivery of the vaccine to session site. CoWIN portal will monitor the registration of beneficiaries on the digital platform.

The DM said to deal with adverse effect, the AEFI cell formed at NMCH and PMCH will prepare medicine kit and ambulance. Any beneficiary who develops complications during vaccination should immediately be taken by an ambulance to the nearest hospital.

“Under the law and order cell to be managed by the ADM, police personnel will be deployed at each vaccine centre to manage the crowd and maintain social distancing. The IEC cell will organize awareness generation activities through the IEC materials at vaccine centres,” Singh said.

He added: “People, who want to get the information about the vaccines can contact District Registrar and Counselling Centre at Chajjubagh. The control room at DRCC will organize an orientation programme for common people and also rebut the rumours.”

Besides, special officers will be deployed to oversee the inaugural day inoculation programme at different vaccination centres. The officers will perform the same role as sector magistrates do during elections.

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