Covid vaccination drive: India well prepared to store, distribute vaccines

India has about 29,000 cold chain points, 1.6 million shipper boxes, 76,000 cold chain equipment, 700 reefer vans and 55,000 cold chain handlers

As the country initiates a mammoth vaccination drive, the government may have to overcome many hurdles to achieve its stated goal of vaccinating 300 million people in the first phase. But Covid-19 vaccine cold storage capacity and distribution is the least of its worries.

Apart from the existing government infrastructure, used for universal immunisation programme, underutilised capacities at private facilities will come in handy, according to stakeholders. Low cost of setting up a new cold storage facility has reduced the risk of supply overtaking storage capacities at remote places, they said.

India has about 29,000 cold chain points, 1.6 million shipper boxes,