CMAI urges members to join COVID-19 vaccination drive

Rajesh Masand, President, CMAI has urged the association’s members to participate in the Phase III Strategy of the National COVID-19 Vaccination drive and get themselves and their staff members vaccinated. He said, India has so far vaccinated around 14 crore people and aims to launch vaccination for citizens above 18 years of age from May 1, 2021.

This gigantic task will need a massive government effort and tremendous support from all the citizens, and especially businessmen.

He further added current shortage of vaccines is unlikely to last too long as the government has ramped up vaccine production besides importing them on a large scale.

Industrial establishments would be able to procure vaccine doses from manufacturers, provided they follow all protocols such as being captured on CoWIN Platform, linked to AEFI (Adverse Event Following Immunization) reporting and all other prescribed Norms, added Masand.

He said India’s Health Secretary has informed all states that it will allow Industrial Enterprises to vaccinate their employees by procuring vaccines from notified hospitals with cold chain facilities For this, the employees will have to register themselves as ‘Industrial CVCs’ (COVID Vaccine Centres).

The government has announced that any money spent towards this drive, can be set off against the CSR spend requirements of that particular company, added Masand.