Minister of Medical, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Rajasthan, Dr Raghu Sharma has informed that the COVID-19 Vaccination drive will begin in Rajasthan on 16 January 2021. While addressing a press conference on Sunday, 10 January, he confirmed that a total of nearly 4.5 lakh healthcare workers in the state will be vaccinated with the COVISHIELD Vaccine in the first phase. He also informed that the vaccination will be done across 282 session sites in the state, for which all preparations are in place.

He elaborated that there will be 3 state-level storage centers, 7 division-level storage centers and 34 district-level storage centers in Rajasthan. He added that 2,444 Cold Chain points are in operation at the Community and Primary Healthcare centers. One Vaccine van has been made available in each district. 104 and 108 Ambulance will also be present at each vaccination center in case of any emergency need.

On training and availability of personnel, the Health Minister said that 5,626 vaccination teams have been trained for executing the project in the first phase. The health department has identified and set up 3,689 government health centers and 2,969 private medical institutes and health centers. Of these, 3.736 will be session venues for the COVIN software has been deployed at 3,736 centers from among these.

Dr. Raghu Sharma informed that all vaccination centers are fully equipped to address any health conditions post vaccination. He updated the media that all publicity material towards vaccination made available by the central government have been received by the state. Arrangement for printing and distribution has been made. Data related to public representatives (MLA, Sarpanch, etc.), doctors, health workers, Anganwadi workers and Asha Sahayaginis has been consolidated at district, block and sector level.