Vax centres soon for elderly, differently abled

The elderly and differently abled will soon have dedicated Covid-19 vaccination centres near their home to ensure easy access to vaccines to them.The health ministry has changed vaccination guidelines to introduce ‘near to home covid vaccination centres’ for those above 60 and differently abled persons. This would allow state governments to hold camps or establish vaccination centres in community centres, panchayat ghars, old-age homes and centres for differently abled.The guidelines were changed after at least three letters from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities between April 29 and May 25. Speaking to ET, minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said, “certain states like Delhi and Madhya Pradesh have dedicated vaccination centres for the elderly and differently-abled. We are also trying to ask NGOs to register them and coordinate with district officials to hold special camps. We had taken this up with health ministry and even sent them representations from several organisations raising the issue of inconvenience.” The Bombay high court too had urged the state to have something similar for those who found it difficult to reach vaccination centres.Vaccination centres for the category would be established after a thorough examination by the district task force. Resident welfare associations, panchayats and NGOs would place their requests with district officials indicating the number of beneficiaries. The district task force would decide on the location of the centre to maximise vaccine uptake. Once identified, the site would be registered on CoWIN. A beneficiary can register on CoWIN or walk in at the centre where he would be assisted by the officials in registering on CoWIN and then in taking the vaccine. The government would facilitate transport of beneficiaries also.The health ministry has said that in case of old-age homes or rehabilitation centres where there would be a number of beneficiaries, a vaccination camp should be organised on multiple days. Some states like Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have already started taking the vaccination to the doorstep of the people. So far, there have been reservations on such a move as the adverse effect following immunisation (AEFI) would be difficult to track. Every vaccination centre would be linked to AEFI management centre. The guidelines lay down that ASHA workers and volunteers would visit elderlies and differently-abled, especially those who live alone, a day after immunisation.

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