Coronavirus: India pins hope on Oxford shots as COVID-19 vaccine dry run begins today in 4 states

India is holding a two-day dry run for the largest and most ambitious mass immunisation programme in its history.
 

With over 1 crore total infections, India is holding a dry run starting tomorrow for the largest and most ambitious mass immunisation programme in its history.

The dummy vaccination exercise for Covid-19 will be carried out today and tomorrow in two districts of four corners of the country —Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, and Assam.

With a January target to roll out the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India, the Indian drug regulator may give emergency use authorisation to the Serum Institute that is manufacturing the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine here.

The dry run will proceed through four key steps, which will be monitored closely by the Centre. The dry run is intended to test India's flagship vaccine delivery IT platform, Co-Win, at every stage, as per reports.

Though India has not given a nod to any vaccine for emergency use, Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, tested and manufactured in India by Serum Institute, is the front-runner. Once the UK drug regulator gives its approval to the vaccine, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation is likely to hold a meeting where the details will be reviewed and the nod will be given after evaluation.

For Covid-19 vaccination, as many as 2,360 participants were trained during a national-level training of state immunisation officers, cold chain officers, information, education and communication officials and development partners.