VACCINE DISTRIBUTUION POLICY

Subject: Governance

Context: The Centre has asked states to utilize data generated at the district level during screening for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to identify a priority group that is expected to receive Covid vaccinations early next year: those below the age of 50 with comorbidities.

Concept:

• A high-level expert group co-chaired by Member, NITI Aayog, and Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, recommended three groups to be simultaneously vaccinated on priority depending on availability of vaccine:
• 1 crore health care workers; 2 crore frontline workers, including police and armed forces; and, about 27 crore above the age of 50 and those less than 50 years with comorbidities
• The basic document for identification will be the electoral roll, which will provide states with age details of beneficiaries.
• The states will superimpose this basic document with the NCD screenings that they have conducted.
• The states can also create their own mechanisms, as health is a subject of the state.