NEW DELHI: Private hospitals not empanelled under the central government scheme have been sanctioned to give Covid-19 vaccine, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday.

The Centre has urged the states and Union territories to ensure adequate allocation of Covid-19 vaccines to all hospitals, government as well as private, for the entire duration for which vaccination sessions have been planned.

 The states and Union territories should not store, reserve, conserve or create a buffer stock of the vaccines, the health ministry said in a statement. "The central government has adequate stock and will provide the required vaccine doses to the states and UTs," it said. The Centre urged the states and Union territories to utilise the optimum capacity of all private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman BharatPradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Central Government

Health Scheme (CGHS) and the state health insurance schemes to enable them to effectively function as CVCs. The states and Union territories have been asked to regularly collaborate with the private hospitals to ensure that their optimum capacity for vaccination is utilised.

 All private vaccination centres should have effective crowd management protocols in place, along with facilities for seating, water, proper signage etc. They should also ensure adherence to a Covid-friendly behaviour among the beneficiaries.

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