Pune: Maharashtra, one of the worst-hit state by the novel coronavirus is ready for the vaccination drive. The preparations for the world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccination are in full-swing in Maharashtra. The state government on Tuesday received 9.63 lakh doses of Covishield vaccines from the Serum Institute of India. Maharashtra has set up 511 centres for vaccination drive in 36 districts, where 127 are reserved for Mumbai (72) and Pune (55).

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also ordered the administration to guarantee direction between government agencies to make the mega drive successful.

WHO WILL BE VACCINATED FIRST

The vaccination centres around the state will have electricity, internet facility and webcasting service. So far, more than 7.84 lakh health workers in the state have registered on the CoWIN app. The priority groups for inoculation have been decided and the first group includes healthcare workers, employees of government and private health organisations, Asha and Anganwadi workers.

COLD STORAGE FACILITY

There are 3,135 cold chain centres available in Maharashtra. One cold storage is available at the state. 34 cold storages are available at the district level while nine at the division level and 27 are reserved at the municipal level.

The state health department has appliances like ice-lined refrigerators and deep freezers. Deep freezers can store vaccines at temperatures as low as minus 16 to 25 degrees Celsius. At present, there are four devices of both these types in the state. There are currently 16 walk-in coolers in different parts of the state. It has installed with five new coolers.

There are six walk-in freezers in the state. They are all functional for vaccine storage. Each of the six walk-in coolers and two walk-in freezers has been received from the central government. It will be installed in eight constituencies of the health department.

NEEDLE SYRINGES

A huge number of needle syringes will be made available for injection of the COVID vaccine. Thus, the preparation for storage of the syringes is in full swing. The arrangement is made in every district including Pune.