Mumbai: Seven days after the first dry run, Maharashtra is ready for another drill on Friday at over 30 districts.

The earlier dry run was conducted in four districts and two municipal corporations but the dry run on Friday will witness increase the number of districts. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope had stated that according to the guidelines of the central government, a dry run on Friday will be carried out in Maharashtra’s 30 districts and 25 municipal corporations. He also stated that each district will have three centres, while the municipal corporations will have one vaccine centre for the drill.

The press statement from the health department said that the dry run will also study the challenges faced during inoculation and guidelines would be made accordingly. It is also an attempt to enhance the sureness of officers and staff at all levels of the vaccination drive. Also, a meeting of district officials was held recently to discuss the prep for the dry run. In areas where there is poor connectivity of internet, district officials have been instructed to print copies of beneficiary lists.

The Health Ministry during a video conference with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan also requested to make arrangements to provide the vaccine free of cost to the needy. He said the data of 8 lakh health workers in the state, including those employed in government and private sectors, is already uploaded on CO-WIN application made for mass vaccination.

Recently, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave nod to Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in India.