NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday presided over a high-level meeting to firm up the protocol for the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination whenever it is available with priority for the corona warriors and vulnerable sections.
The Prime Minister spelt out four guiding principles for the rollout of the vaccination programme, with the first priority to be given for the vulnerable groups. Modi told the senior officials that the vulnerable groups should be identified and prioritised for early vaccination, which should include doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, non-medical frontline corona warriors, besides those who are at the high risks.
Prime Minister also directed that detailed planning for such large scale vaccination should be undertaken immediately. In the meeting which was attended by the NITI Aayog Member V K Paul, Prime Minister underlined that vaccination of “anyone, anywhere” should take place, which would essentially mean that it should be universally accessible.
No issues, including imposition of any domicile related restrictions for getting the vaccine, should impede the access of the vaccine for the people, added the Prime Minister. “The vaccination must be affordable and universal. No person should be left out of the vaccination. Also, the entire process from production to vaccination should be monitored and supported in real time with the use of technology,” Prime Minister remarked.
The high-level meeting took stock of key issues concerning the roll out of the vaccine, which included management of medical supply chains, coordination between different agencies involved in the process, besides the role of the private sector and civil society. The current status of vaccine development efforts were also reviewed at the meeting.