Dry run successfully completed in 200 sites across State: Govt

Speaking to DT Next, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said that the general feedback was positive and even Central authorities lauded the management. “More than 200 vaccination sites conducted the dry run smoothly. As the vaccination will happen in a phased manner, we will be able to adapt and learn as it takes off,” he said. While the dry run was conducted at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, Kanniyakumari, Theni and Thoothukudi conducted the process at district headquartered government hospitals, private sector clinics or hospitals.

Transporting vaccines from cold storage facility to the site, administering them to the candidates, storing the data on Co-WIN app and generating the electronic certificate to the candidate, was completed. The procedure was designed in a way that 25 frontline workers could get shots in two hours. The CoWIN app designed to track details of the beneficiary was used to feed data, the place where he/she was likely to get vaccination, data on pre-vaccination and post-vaccination. The app would also generate an electronic certificate after vaccine was administered, follow up with the patients, reminding them of booster dose. All sites had a beneficiary waiting room, vaccination room and observation room. Five officials, including a medical officer, nurses and other healthcare workers were involved at each site.