Pune, Dec 7 (PTI) A task force set up for planning the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in Pune district of Maharashtra held its first meeting here on Monday, an official said.

District collector Rajesh Deshmukh said thetask force will ensure that the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) laid down by the government for storage and distribution of vaccine are followed.

Also Read | Bharat Bandh Tomorrow: Delhi Police Warn of Strict Action Against Those Disrupting Movement on Nationwide Shutdown.

"As part of preparedness, the work for collating data of frontline workers, who will be administered vaccine on priority, is going on," he said.

The collector said training employees in various aspects of the vaccination programme like logistical support, transport, cold chain maintenance etc. will be planned stage-wise.

Also Read | COVID-19 Vaccine Latest Update: DCGI to Review Data of Covaxin, Covishield and BNT162b2 on December 9, Says Report.

Block-leveltask force will also be established for better coordination, he added.

Earlier in the day, Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) said it has applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorisation for AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)