Delhi: Pregnant women to get vaccine at check-up centres

New Delhi: Delhi government’s directorate of family welfare has instructed vaccination of pregnant and lactating women may begin at the health facility sites for ante-natal and post-natal check-ups.

The recently issued order would allow lactating women to get vaccine doses at the sites where they go for routine immunisation of their children. The order states that the medical officer and the vaccinator are already present in the health facility along with the vaccines, as these centres also serve as cold chain points.

“Vaccination shall be done through Co-WIN portal in walk-in mode. Vaccinators must be trained to conduct these sessions. All efforts must be made to keep vaccine wastage to a minimum,” the order states.

The directions aim to ensure enhanced coverage of pregnant and lactating women and district health officials have been requested to ensure immediate operationalisation.

“Based on Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights’s recommendations, the health department has issued orders allowing lactating mothers to get vaccinated for Covid-19 at the same centres as their children’s routine immunisation. They no longer need to make separate visits now,” tweeted Anurag Kundu, chairperson, DCPCR.