Delhi Police steps up security ahead of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out
(Sourced from PTI)
The Delhi Police has made adequate security arrangements in the city for the smooth transportation of COVID-19 vaccines when the countrywide vaccination roll-out will begin later this week, officials said on Tuesday. "The first batch of Covishield vaccine containing 2.64 lakh doses reached Delhi's central storage facility at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH) on Tuesday amid high security," they said.
A SpiceJet flight carrying the vials landed at the Delhi airport around 10 am on Tuesday, four days ahead of the launch of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination roll-out exercise. Three trucks carrying 478 boxes of the vaccines rolled out of the Serum Institute of India.
Special Commissioner of Police (Operations and Licensing) Muktesh Chander said, "The security force ensured smooth transportation of vaccines from the airport to RGSSH where adequate police arrangements have been made." "When the vaccines are distributed, we will ensure adequate security arrangements. They will be escorted smoothly and necessary security arrangements will be made at the 89 vaccination centers in Delhi," Chander added.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahadra) Amit Sharma said, "We have deployed security personnel at the storage area of the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital." "Three-layer security CCTV cameras, Delhi Police and hospital's security staff is in place around the storage facility at RGSSH," officials said. "From RGSSH, the vaccine will be transported in a special vehicle under heavy security to vaccination centers," they said.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjung Hospital, LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, Apollo Hospitals, and Max Hospital are among the vaccination centers in the national capital.
Meanwhile, the city police also escorted a vehicle carrying the vaccines till the border. The vials will be kept at the National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal, one of the hubs in North India appointed for the distribution. "Adequate police arrangements have been made at the vaccine storage sites, and PCR vans will cover these units in their patrolling plans," police said.
"The police control room has also been directed to respond promptly to calls from cold storage points and vaccination sites, and immediately pass on the information to PCR vans, local police, traffic police, and any other agency," police said.
