Health administration reviews storage of 40K litres of Covid-vaccine

Aurangabad, Dec 14:

The health administration is expecting Covid-vaccine stock to be received by December-end or at the beginning of the new year. Hence, the government officials with the association of private sector have geared up to implement Coronavirus vaccination drive in the district successfully. The administration reviewed its storages which has a facility to store 40,000 litres of the vaccine.

Earlier, the government has decided to give vaccine shots to 33,000 health personnel, including doctors and nurses from government and private sectors from the district under the first phase.

According to the deputy directorate (health), there is one walk-in fridge and walk-in cooler at its health and family welfare training centre in Cidco. Each can store 12 cubic meters of the vaccine. Besides, there is one walk-in cooler of 12 cubic meter capacity in Cantonment. It may be noted one cubic metre equals to 1,000 litres. Hence the storage capacity of 36,000 litres of vaccine is assured. Apart from this, the AMC has 24 ice-line refrigerator.

It is learnt walk-in freezer will be arranged near the parking bay on the campus of the deputy directorate. The freezer will have the capacity to store 40 cubic meters. The ice-line refrigerator facility is available in every health centre and hospital. The administration may acquire private cold storage if needed.

" The stock of vaccine is expected to arrive first in the office of deputy directorate. It will be transported in vehicles till walk-in freezers and walk-in coolers. Later on, it will be transported to the rural areas of the district. The drive will be implemented smoothly as the vaccine is going to be administered to health staff only," said district civil surgeon Dr S V Kulkarni.

Meanwhile, the deputy director (health) Dr Swapnil Lade said, " The decision on storage and of what capacity will be taken after receiving the vaccine. One million dosages could be made in 12 cubic meter stock. We have an adequate storage facility in Cantonment, Cidco and other places."