India prepares for world’s largest vaccine campaign

India’s COVID-19 vaccine campaign preparations included a dry run, here’s what it looked like in Madhya Pradesh.

Stephanie Raison and Anil Gulati
Dry run for COVID19 vaccine being held in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, showing health care workers receive SMS for vaccination, waiting at the center and following other protocols during the nation wide dry run.
UNICEF/UN0394514/Soni
15 January 2021

With innovative IT solutions, a comprehensive cold chain and an expansive network of trained healthcare workers India is prepared for the COVID19 vaccine campaign across the country. Here’s a glimpse from Bhopal.

Dry run for COVID19 vaccine being held in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, showing health care workers receive SMS for vaccination, waiting at the center and following other protocols during the nation wide dry run.
UNICEF/UN0394503/Soni
Dry run for COVID19 vaccine being held in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, showing health care workers receive SMS for vaccination, waiting at the center and following other protocols during the nation wide dry run.

The dry run was a great initiative in preparation for the COVID-19 vaccination campaign across India. It will be the world’s largest vaccination drive.

A colourful display at the entrance to a COVID-19 vaccination centre in GandhiNagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
UNICEF/UN0391981/Faruqui
A colourful display at the entrance to a COVID-19 vaccination centre in GandhiNagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

What's the #COVID19 vaccine 'dry run'?

It's a practice session for the nationwide delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health workers go through the process to make sure it's running smoothly.

Dry run for COVID19 vaccine being held in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, showing health care workers receive SMS for vaccination, waiting at the center and following other protocols during the nation wide dry run.
UNICEF/UN0394523/Soni
Dry run for COVID19 vaccine being held in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, showing health care workers receive SMS for vaccination, waiting at the center and following other protocols during the nation wide dry run.

These are the steps for #COVID19 vaccine

  • Wait for security check to enter
  • Online verification and ID check
  • Vaccination
  • 30 minutes observation

 

A health worker displays vaccine storage as part of the cold chain mechanism during a dry run held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh to prepare for India's COVID-19 vaccine campaign.
UNICEF/UN0391980/Faruqui
A health worker displays vaccine storage as part of the cold chain mechanism during a dry run held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh to prepare for India's COVID-19 vaccine campaign.

Vaccines must be continually stored in a limited temperature range. The storage, management and transportation coordination for vaccines is called a cold chain.

A health care worker carries 'vaccines' in a cool box as aprt of cold change from the cold chain point to the vaccination room.
UNICEF/UN0391977/Faruqui
A health care worker carries 'vaccines' in a cool box as aprt of cold change from the cold chain point to the vaccination room.

Thank you to all the Corona Warriors working diligently across India to keep everyone safe.

UNICEF India