Easier vaccine rules for ‘frail’ seniors and the disabled likely soon

PUNE: Guidelines for the vaccination of “frail” elderly citizens and the differently abled who are unable to reach vaccination centres in urban and rural settings are expected soon from the Union health ministry as the focus will be on their immunisation in June and July.
N K Arora, chairman of India’s technical advisory group on Covid-1, told TOI several local bodies have initiated vaccination for senior citizens in urban settings in housing societies or at a common place.
This practice will be encouraged, provided the organisers take due care in tie-ups with healthcare centres and check for any adverse event following immunisation (AEFI). The norms would have a clear definition of the “frail” elderly, Dr Arora added. Several states have told the Centre the senior citizens were afraid to visit vaccination centres due to surging crowds. “These guidelines would help them,” Dr Arora said. The Centre has not yet planned a door-to-door vaccination programme because of likely AEFI events, he added.