The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) has recommended the proposal by a Technical Expert Committee of the Union Ministry on the guidelines for Near to Home Vaccination Centres (NHCVC) for Elderly & Differently Abled Citizens.
These recommendations have been accepted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Near to Home Vaccination Centers for Elderly & Differently-abled citizens would follow a Community-based, Flexible and People-centric approach, bringing the Covid Vaccination Centres nearer to homes.
Eligible population for Near to Home Covid Vaccination Centers:
- All individuals above 60 years of age with no Vaccination or First dose of vaccination.
- All individuals below 60 years with Disability due to Physical or Medical conditions.
The Technical Expert Committee’s recommendations are aimed to ensure vaccination of Senior Citizens and Differently Abled population having limited mobility due to their physical condition.
The recommendations are in response to the need to increase access by bringing Vaccination services closer to the community while Maintaining all necessary Precautions and Safety measures, as per the Operational Guidelines and Advisories issued from time to time.
How Near to Home Covid Vaccination Centres (NHCVC) works?
- A community-based approach to be followed where sessions can be conducted in non-health facility-based settings and are nearer to home, e.g. in a Community center, School buildings, Old age homes, etc.
- Based on the cohort of the eligible population, District Task Force (DTF) / Urban Task Force (UTF) will decide the location of NHCVC to maximize the reach of services to the target population, reduce Vaccine wastage along with causing minimal impact on the existing health services.
- NHCVC will be linked to existing Vaccination Centers; the in-charge will be responsible to provide the Vaccine, Logistics, and Human resources required for vaccination.
- In a scenario where there is a group of target beneficiaries under one roof like Old Age Home etc., the NHCVC can be organized at that site as per the Operational Guidelines.
Each team at NHCVC will comprise of 5 members – Team Leader (necessarily a Doctor), Vaccinator, Vaccination Officer 1 for Co-WIN Registration and/or Verification of the beneficiary, and Vaccination Officer-2 and 3 for Crowd control, Assistance to vaccinator, ensuring 30 minutes Observation of Beneficiaries post-vaccination.
‘The Government has advised all States and Union Territories to direct the concerned officials to take note of these recommendations and undertake prompt necessary action for their Detailed planning and Effective implementation under the ongoing National Covid-19 Vaccination drive’ stated the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a press statement here.