Indian Government allows COVID-19 Vaccinations at the Workplace

In order to make the COVID-19 vaccination drive more accessible, quality focused and citizen centric, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (“Ministry”), from 11 April 2021, has allowed COVID-19 vaccination sessions at workplaces (both public and private) which are having about 100 eligible and willing beneficiaries. The Ministry said that vaccination sessions may be organised at workplaces by identifying such workplaces with an existing COVID-19 vaccination centre (“CVC”). The Health Ministry has also prepared guidelines to organise these sessions.

Identification of workplaces:

The District Task Force (“DTF”) chaired by District Magistrate and Urban Task Force (“UTF”) chaired by Municipal Commissioner will identify such government and private workplaces after due deliberations with relevant employers.  Workplace management will designate one of their senior employees to work as ‘Nodal Officer’ to coordinate with district health authorities/ private CVCs and support vaccination related activities. The Nodal Officer will oversee and facilitate all aspects of vaccination at workplace like registration of beneficiaries, availability of physical and IT infrastructure and oversight to vaccination etc.

Identification of eligible and willing beneficiaries:

Employees aged 45 years or more will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination at workplaces. Such employees must be registered on the Co-WIN portal (i.e., the government portal wherein a beneficiary is required to register himself or herself for vaccination) (“Portal”) prior to vaccination.

Registration of workplaces as CVC on Co-Win portal:

Once identified, all such workplaces vaccination centers will be registered on the Portal as Government or Private CVC at workplace (“Workplace CVC”). DTF / UTF will ensure availability of three rooms as waiting, vaccination and observation rooms at such Workplace CVCs. These rooms should be part of the permanent structure of the workplace and temporary tent like structure should not be used.

Linkage of the workplace CVC with public and private CVCs:

Every Workplace CVC will be identified to an existing and nearest CVC in the government and private medical facility, respectively. The designated government and private CVC to whom the Workplace CVC has been identified will be responsible for deployment of vaccination teams at such Workplace CVCs. For optimal utilisation of resources, vaccination sessions will be planned at a Workplace CVC once a minimum of 50 beneficiaries have registered themselves for vaccination. The schedule of vaccination session can be made up to 15 days in advance and intimated to such workplaces by the concerned CVC.

Engaging health infrastructure and health care workers of workplace CVCs:

Some of the workplaces may have health infrastructure in form of hospitals, health clinics, nursing centers, etc. This infrastructure may be utilised to set-up vaccination sites in case sufficient space for waiting, vaccination and observation rooms are available. The health care workers of this health infrastructure of the Workplace CVCs may be deployed for the COVID-19 vaccination activities. Adequate training of such health workers will be ensured.

Deployment of vaccination team:

District health authorities will normally deploy the vaccination team at Workplace CVC (government). Private CVCs will deploy the vaccination team at Workplace CVC (private entities).

Financial guidelines:

COVID-19 vaccination at Workplace CVC (government owned or controlled) organised by district health authorities will be free of cost. COVID-19 vaccination organised by private Workplace CVC would be on a charge basis at the same rate as the vaccine is available to private CVCs.