Media Release

Udupi, Nov 5: Several countries in the world have begun testing vaccines that have been developed to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections that caused numerous deaths and infected crores of people.

Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has involved itself in the process of vaccine trials against the disease. The vaccine trials have reached the final stage and it is believed that the vaccination process will begin throughout the world soon. Based on this, a walk-in cooler room has been prepared in Udupi to store the vaccines.

Approximately 2.28 crore doses of vaccines can be stored in the room arranged in the office of district health and family welfare department.

More than 248 vaccine manufacturing companies have been trying to develop a cure for the coronavirus. Of them, 197 vaccines are in the pre-clinical stage, 23 are in Phase I one, 16 in Phase I/II, two in Phase II and 10 are in Phase III tests. Though none of the vaccines has been authorized it is expected to be approved soon.

The vaccines will be provided first to all the government and private health sector officials and paramedical staff. For this reason, deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha has directed for the preparation of a database of everybody working in 982 private hospitals, 92 government hospitals including doctors, caretakers, lab technicians and assistant staff.

"It is necessary to maintain a temperature between 2 and 8 degrees during transport, storage and distribution of the vaccine. 77 cold chain system places have been identified for the purpose. 1,324 vehicles, 9,370 ice packs and expert staff have been also arranged," said DHO Dr Sudhir Chandra Sooda.