While the much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine is now ready for use and distribution, it would not be wrong to say that the little bottle of vaccine is of utmost value to the entire country.
While the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year, all the major countries across the world were racing against time to create a vaccine for the virus.
Now with the vaccine ready to be administered in a phased manner from January 16, 2021, in India, the vaccine’s security is of utmost priority.
A senior Delhi police official recently commented that “the COVID-19 vaccine doses will be guarded with as much caution as ballots are done during elections.”
What Kind Of Security Procedures Will Be Undertaken?
The officer said that in Delhi alone, there will be 600 centres where the vaccine will be kept and the police team has been notified to take precautionary and security measures accordingly. They were also instructed to deploy security guards and install CCTV cameras at the place of storage.
As mentioned before, the world had been waiting for the vaccine for about a year, and COVID-19, as we all know by now, is a highly communicable virus. Burglary, thus, is a major threat until the vaccine is administered to the public.
The officer added that if required, paramilitary forces will also be deployed to ensure safety, and sensitive centres across the capital have been identified by analysts to be provided with extra security.
While the Serum Institute’s Covishield vaccine will soon be transported from their base, Pune, ultimate security measures are being taken during the transportation as well, in a combination of air and road transport.
Is So Much Precaution Required?
While one might find it hilarious that a vaccine is treated as a VVIP entity in the country, it is a fact that the pandemic was no joke. Around 2 million people across the world have succumbed to the virus and the cases are increasing day by day.
Also Read: Comparing And Simplifying The Three COVID-19 Vaccines Under Trial
With India being one of the most populated countries across the world, the vaccination drive is not easy and will probably pan out for years.
While currently, the vaccine is to be administered in emergency cases and to front-line workers, until visible progress is seen, the vaccine will surely be under security.
At present, since a comparatively small number of doses are manufactured, air transport is the preferred mode of transport for the same. And until the vaccine shows a significant effect, the vaccine must be kept under security.
Security of the vaccine is one of the most important tasks at the moment and India is on its way to being the country to organise the biggest vaccination drive in the world. While 2 mock vaccination drills have already taken place, the vaccination drive will commence on 16 January 2021.
The Serum Institute’s Covishield (in collaboration with AstraZeneca) and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin are two major Indian manufacturers of the vaccine which got approval from the Drug Controller General of India for restricted emergency use.
While people are eager to get the vaccine, it is also to be noted that the pandemic is still very much in place and as responsible citizens, it is everybody’s duty to keep following social distancing protocols.
What are your thoughts on the security measures taken for the vaccine? Let us know by commenting below!
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Hindustan Times, The Hindu
Find the Blogger: @AishuPoshu
This post is tagged under: Covid 19; covid 19 vaccine India; serum institute of India; AstraZeneca; Covishield; covaxin; covid vaccine; Free COVID Vaccine; Covid 19 vaccination drive; vaccine security; indian vaccine
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