India prepares for the world’s largest vaccination drive against Covid-19

A dry run to test the best way to administer the coronavirus vaccine, and check all aspects of supply and logistics, was conducted across all states on Saturday. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

The mock drill -- the largest of its kind in the world -- is also aimed at testing the crucial CoWin application, a digital platform that will be used to roll out the vaccine across the nation. (Union Health Ministry/Twitter)

The drive comes a day after Covishield, the Indian version of the Oxford-Astrazeneca's vaccine, got approval with certain conditions by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). Covishield is now just one step away from being administered to Indians. (Union Health Ministry/Twitter)

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan reviewed the process in Delhi’s GTB Hospital and assured that the government would not compromise on any protocol before approving a vaccine. (Dr Harsh Vardhan/Twitter)

Dr Harsh Vardhan also appealed to people not to be misguided by rumours regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. (Dr Harsh Vardhan/Twitter)

The Centre on Thursday had stated that the activity was to be conducted by all states and Union Territories to test the linkages between planning and implementation, and identify challenges. (Union Health Ministry/Twitter)

As part of the exercise, the list of beneficiaries of the vaccination was uploaded and a mock exercise for injecting the vaccine was conducted in all the designated centres. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Before today's nationwide inoculation exercise, the pilot dry run was conducted on December 28-29 in four states. Learnings from first dry run -- better mapping of remote locations, real-time reporting of adverse events and ramping up training-- will be incorporated in the second run. (Union Health Ministry/Twitter)

In the national capital, the dry run is being conducted at 3 sites in Shahdara, Daryaganj and Dwarka. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain is scheduled to visit a facility in Daryaganj as part of the exercise. (Union Health Ministry/Twitter)

To conduct the drive, all states had to ensure physical verification of all proposed sites for “adequacy of space, logistical arrangements, internet connectivity, electricity, safety.” (Union Health Ministry/Twitter)

A health worker gets a message on his mobile for the vaccination dry run being held at Gandhinagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. (Union Health Ministry/Twitter)

Karnataka Health Minister Dr Sudhakar at a model vaccination centre in Yelahanka General Hospital on Saturday.

Dry run of Covid-19 vaccine at madhyamgram rural health center on Saturday in North 24 Parganas. (Express photo Shashi Ghosh)

In Bengal, the process is being conducted at three places –– Amdanga, Madhyamgram and Duttabad –– all in North 24 Parganas district, with at least 75 health workers participating in the programme. (Express photo Shashi Ghosh)

The exercise started at 9 am at Urban Primary Health Centres in Duttabad and Madhyagram and Amdanga Rural Hospital in North 24 Parganas district. (Express photo Shashi Ghosh)

“At least 75 people are participating in the programme at three centres. Their health condition will be observed for at least 30 minutes after completion of the exercise,” an official told PTI. (Express photo Shashi Ghosh)