Seeking to enhance COVID-19 vaccination coverage of pregnant and lactating women, the Delhi government on August 9 issued an order that they can get jabs at health facility sites where they report for their regular check-up on designated days of the week.

The vaccination exercise against COVID-19 had begun on January 16 this year. However, pregnant women were made eligible to get a shot about a month ago. "In order to enhance coverage of vulnerable cohort of pregnant and lactating women, it is directed that their COVID-19 vaccination may be done at the health facility site where they report for their regular ANC/PNC check-up, on the designated days of the week," reads the order issued by the Delhi health department. ANC refers to antenatal care an expectant mother needs, while PNC is postnatal care a woman requires after becoming a mother.\

"The medical officer and the vaccinator are already present in the health facility along with the vaccines, as these centres also serve as a cold chain points," the order says. Vaccination shall be done through Co-WIN portal in walk-in mode. Training of vaccinators for the conduct of these sessions on Co-WIN must be ensured. All efforts must be made to keep the vaccine wastage to the minimum, the health department said in its order. The CDMOs (chief district medical officers) and DIOs (district informatics officers) are requested to issue necessary instructions to the concerned in this regard for immediate operationalisation, it added. At a DDMA meeting held on 6 August, officials of the department gave a presentation on the city government's preparedness for a possible third wave of coronavirus and the status of COVID-19 vaccination.