During the meeting, the Centre highlighted the importance of uploading correct and timely data by states/UTs as any “incorrect data would compromise the integrity of the entire system.”
States have been advised to prioritise decision regarding direct procurement of vaccines by state/UT government and publicise about facility of ‘only online registration’ for age groups 18-45 years.
The Centre has also asked states to schedule vaccination for eligible population for providing adequate visibility of vaccination slots on COWIN and “coordinate with law-and-order authorities for effective crowd management at CVCs.”
The states were advised to take the following steps to prepare and implement a comprehensive plan for augmentation:
-Identify additional Dedicated Covid-19 hospitals and prepare field hospital facilities either through DRDO, CSIR or similar agencies in the public and private sector.
-Ensure adequacy in terms of oxygen supported beds, ICU beds and oxygen supplies.
-Deploy of requisite Human Resources with proper Training & mentoring of doctors and nurses for management of patients and Strengthening ambulance services.
-Establish of sufficient referral linkages for districts with deficit infrastructure through deployment of additional ambulances.
-Set up of centralised call center-based services for allocation of beds.
-Maintain a real-time record for available beds and make is easily accessible to general public.
-Create guidelines and enable states to take over private health facilities to provide Covid-19 care.
The states were also advised to expand designated Covid-19 care facilities for isolation of asymptomatic and mild symptomatic patients.
“Ensure adequate availability of oxygen, ventilators and intensive care under trained doctors, as well as access to steroids and other drugs as appropriate step up creation of in-hospital oxygen plants in large hospitals,” Union health ministry said in a statement.
Centre suggested the state/UTs to co-ordinate with Corporate entities/PSUs/government departments for their CSR funds to facilitate setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary Covid care facilities.
Everyone above 18 years of age will be eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine in phase 3 of the vaccination drive May 1 onwards.
