Now all private hospitals can administer COVID-19 vaccine

NEW DELHI:

With more people coming forward to avail the COVID-19 vaccination, the Centre has decided to allow all private hospitals to function as vaccination centres.

Earlier, only private hospitals empanelled to Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) Scheme, and similar State Health Insurance Schemes were allowed to function as COVID Vaccination Centers.

"The decision was taken to utilise 100 per cent capacities of all private hospitals," a release issued by the Health Ministry said.

The private hospitals will work as COVID Vaccination Centres, if they have an adequate number of vaccinators, adequate space for observation of the vaccinated, adequate cold chain arrangement and adequate arrangement for the management of Adverse event following immunization (AEFI).

States and Union Territories have been directed not to store, reserve, conserve or create a buffer stock of the COVID vaccines at the State and district levels.

(Edited by Iban Mawrie)

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