NATIONAL EXPERT DROUP ON VACCINE ADMINISTRATION

Subject: Current Events

Context:  NEGVAC has recommended that the priority group should include health care providers and workers, from both government and private for vaccine administration

Concept:

• The Centre has begun its preparations for introduction of Covid-19 vaccine and a National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) has been formed as the highest group that will guide the strategies for vaccine introduction.
• It is anticipated that initially the supply of the vaccine will be limited in view of huge demand.
• Hence, prioritization of population will be done based on risk assessment for vaccination and subsequently other groups will be included for vaccination.
• One crore health care workers, two crore frontline workers including the police and armed forces, and about 27 crore people above the age of 50 years and those less than 50 years with associate comorbidities, these are the three groups who should be simultaneously vaccinated on priority depending on the availability of a vaccine.
• However, these are only recommendations of the NEGVAC, and that the government still has to take a decision.