The year 2020 witnessed an unparalleled worldwide health outbreak, many are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine, as India prepares for the inoculation campaign, which is likely to begin in January 2021. But before the actual vaccination kicks-in, a dry run has been designed for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. On Monday, the two-day dry run for coronavirus vaccine programme kicked-off in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Assam.

What’s dry run? Does person get an actual vaccine? Here’s all you need to know

What is a dry run?

It is a process to test the overall mechanism before the actual vaccination takes off. It will help in highlighting gaps and the challenges involved in the vaccination process and help the government find resolutions to these challenges before the actual vaccination begins early next year.

This two-day activity will include activities from the necessary data entries in Co-WIN (a platform which will register beneficiaries) to vaccine receipt and allocation to deployment of team members, mock drill of session sites with test beneficiaries to reporting.

What will dry run include?

This exercise will enable end-to-end mobilisation and testing of Covid-19 vaccination process and check the usage of Co-WIN in field environment. The government will also carry out testing of cold storage and transportation arrangements for the vaccine; and also test the allocation of vaccination site.

Where this dry run will take place?

A two-day dry run for coronavirus vaccine programme commenced on Monday in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Assam.

Who will be the beneficiaries? Would the government use the actual vaccine?

District or state authorities running the immunisation drive will pre-determine the beneficiaries, who would have to register on Co-Win portal and carry photo identification. Except the actual vaccination, the government will test all steps leading to it.

What after the dry run?

The state government, after completing the dry run, will prepare a report with suggestions, and this will be sent to the central government to examine the overall process and actions required.

(With inputs from IANS)