Guidance Note for Near to Home COVID Vaccination Centers (NHCVC) for Elderly and Differently Abled Citizens

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued Guidance Note for Near to Home COVID Vaccination Centers (NHCVC) for Elderly and Differently Abled Citizens. The population aged above 60 years (senior citizens) are already included in prioritized age group for COVID-19 vaccination since 1 March 2021. The average national coverage
with first dose for this age group is 42% as of 15 May 2021. Apprehensions have been expressed that many of the senior citizens and individuals with special needs may not be able to receive the doses of COVID-19 vaccine due to inability to travel to a Covid Vaccination Center. The Strategy for Near to Home COVID Vaccination Centers proposes that:

1. Based on the learnings from Routine Immunization, listing of Elderly and Differently abled
   citizens will have to be prepared and Near to Home Vaccination Centres can be organized
   to provide COVID-19 vaccines to a defined population.
2. These NHCVC will be organized specially for this target population only while vaccination
   for all other age groups will continue at the existing CVCs.
3. Based on the cohort of this eligible population of elderly & differently abled, District Task
   Force (DTF) / Urban Task Force (UTF) will decide the location of NHCVC to maximize the
   reach of services to the target population, reduce vaccine wastage along with causing
   minimal impact on the existing health services.
4. NHCVC will be linked to an existing CVC for vaccination purpose; the CVC in-charge will be
   responsible to provide vaccine, logistics and human resources required for vaccination.