Near to Home CVC to provide Covid-19 vaccination services

Shimla, May 29 – A Spokesperson of Health Department said here today as per the communication made by the Government of India, the idea of taking Covid vaccination centres closer to the homes had engaged the Central Ministry’s attention for sometime and a committee constituting of domain knowledge experts and doctors have examined this issue based on scientific evidence. The committee suggested against door to door vaccination, however, they have recommended a more flexible and people centric approach to cater to special needs of elderly and differently abled citizens.

Accordingly, the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) has approved the strategy of near to home CVC for elderly and differently abled citizens and the same has been shared with the States. As per this strategy, near to home Covid vaccination centre (NHCVC) will be organized especially for elderly and differently abled persons and the District Task Force under the respective Deputy Commissioner will decide the location of NHCVC to maximize the reach of services based upon the listing of target population. NHCVC will be linked to an existing CVC for vaccination purposes.

He added that as per this strategy, vaccination drive will be more accessible to elderly and differently abled citizens, who may not be able to travel to the existing Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs), such beneficiaries can now be offered Covid-19 vaccination at Near to Home Covid-19  Vaccination Centres (NHCVC). The NHCVC follows a community based approach where the sessions can be conducted nearer to home e.g. at Community Centre, Resident Welfare Association Centre, Group Housing Society Centre, Panchayat Building, school building etc . for the elderly and differently abled citizens. The guidance for Near to Home Covid Vaccination Centres for Elderly and Differently Abled Citizen has been developed keeping in mind the safety as well as convenience of the beneficiaries.

He further informed that all the districts have been asked to adopt this strategy for the convenience of elderly and differently-abled citizens in the State of Himachal Pradesh.

National Covid-19 Vaccination drive was initiated on 16th January 2021 as an important initiative to curb the spread of the pandemic as well as to reduce the mortality due to Covid-19 disease. The vaccination drive was sequentially expanded for prioritized age groups and now covers all people aged 18 years and above. There has been a constant effort to make this drive people – centric, accessible to all and seamless.