Day ahead of Nationwide Dry Run, Vardhan Seeks Keen Oversight, Personal Indulgence of Health Ministers

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday sought keen oversight and personal indulgence of health ministers, principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries of states and union territories to lead the second nationwide mock drill on the COVID-19 vaccination scheduled to be held on January 8. Seeking their personal indulgence, leadership and keen oversight for tomorrow's national dry run, Vardhan requested the health ministers to be vigilant against rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, the statement said. "During his visit, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will personally review the preparedness and oversee the dry run operations at the scheduled site," the ministry said. The minister reassured all state health ministers that the country's cold chain infrastructure has been sufficiently upgraded to ensure last mile delivery and that adequate supplies of syringes and other logistics have also been provided for: He referred to India's several successful immunization drives with respect to Polio, Rubella and Measles and also narrated his personal experience from the early nineties of having galvanised efforts of millions of Indians which eventually led to the eradication of Polio from the country.