Summary:
The Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba while chairing a high-level meeting asked all the States and Union Territories to prepare and maintain a database of the prioritized group of people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during the initial stages. While reviewing the public health response to COVID-19 Cabinet Secretary informed that at present 3 companies are frontrunners in developing COVID-19 vaccines in India- which are currently in the third phase of clinical trials and will be shortly available for usage. Therefore with a strong network of 28947 chain points for storage and distribution of vaccines COVID-19 vaccine distribution too will be carried out in a hassle-free and time-bound manner. It was also informed that to facilitate coordination between government authorities vaccinating agencies and the general public a digital platform for COVID-19 vaccination delivery named 'CO-WIN' is also being developed. The Cabinet Secretary urged States/UTs to ensure a multi-sectoral response to the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine by involving all the government departments NGOs NCC and other volunteers besides maintaining an open and transparent communication with the public to curb misinformation and rumors..