India has capacity to store COVID vaccines requiring low temperature: Center to SC
India has the capacity to store vaccines that may require low temperatures in the range of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius and has over 29,000 cold chain points (CCPs) across the country where vaccines can be stored at recommended temperatures. goes. told the Supreme Court.
In an affidavit filed in the apex court in a suo motu case on delivery of essential supplies and services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center has said that at present, two vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin – need to be stored in two at a temperature range of eight degrees Celsius.
The Center has said that the requirement of cold storage may change in future with the advent of other COVID-19 vaccines and is fully prepared to take appropriate steps when such vaccines become available.
“The country also has the capacity to store vaccines that may require low temperatures in the range of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees centigrade.
Sputnik V vaccine requires storage at minus 18 degree centigrade,” the affidavit filed on Saturday said.
“It is submitted that there are more than 29,000 Cold Chain Points (CCPs) across the country in States/UTs where vaccines are stored at recommended temperatures,” it said, adding, “Out of the above CCPs, four The national level stores i.e. Government Medical Store Depot (GMSD) are managed by the Government of India and the rest are managed by the respective State/UT Governments.
It said there are 37 state vaccine stores, 114 regional vaccine stores, 723 district vaccine stores and 28,268 sub-district vaccine stores.
Based on the requirement of both Universal Immunization Program and COVID-19 vaccination, the government has procured and supplied Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) to the States and Union Territories (UTs), the affidavit said.
“In addition, funds are allocated to States/UTs under the National Health Mission-Program Implementation Plan (NHM-PIP) for maintenance of CCEs and for provision of Cold Chain Technicians (CCTs) for repair and maintenance of CCEs.” is,” it said.
The affidavit said that there are 29,116 CCPs from national to sub-district level across the country, which have CCEs like walk-in coolers, walk-in freezers, ice-lined refrigerators, deep freezers, cold boxes. Vaccines and freezing of ice packs.
“The capacity of these CCPs has been enhanced for COVID-19 vaccination campaign,” it said.
The affidavit states that the cold storage equipment procured by the government through the domestic budget is indigenously manufactured.
“The cold storage equipment supplied by the donors i.e. UNICEF as an aid is both indigenously manufactured equipment and imported equipment,” it said.
In the affidavit, the Center has also said that the digital divide is no longer a barrier as walk-in COVID vaccination has been allowed and a poor person and a multi-millionaire in the age group of 18 years and above equally receive the vaccine. are entitled to. for free.
As of June 25, more than 31 crore doses of COVID vaccines have been administered in the country, the government said in its May 31 order in response to questions raised by the apex court.
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.