SunstarTV Bureau: The Odisha government has begun its immunization drive at 161 sites spread across 30 districts of the state, on Saturday.
A total of 16,100 healthcare workers would receive the Covid-19 vaccine today- the first day of the drive.
According to reports, the vaccination drive kicked off in all the centres as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the vaccination programme through video-conferencing.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “This is a historic day for the citizens of India. Corona warriors will be administered Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase. Everyone has a crucial role in the immunisation drive.”
The state has received 4.08 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine and 20,000 doses of Covaxin vaccine in the first phase and dispatched those to the cold chain points in the districts.
“The vials have already reached all the cold-chain points and a five-member team at each place is undertaking the vaccination programme,” said CBK Mohanty, Director of DMET (Directorate of Medical Education and Training)
The Phase-I vaccination drive in the state will continue for over 12 days and the vaccination of people with active symptoms of COVID-19 will be deferred by four to eight weeks
Health and Family Welfare Department Director and Odisha Vaccine In-Charge Bijay Panigrahi mentioned, pregnant women and lactating mothers will not be given the vaccine. “Those unwell and hospitalised for any other ailment will also be disallowed from taking the jab as per the Centre’s vaccination guidelines,” he said.
People aged below 18 years and those who have been administered any other vaccine in the last 14 days, will not receive the vaccination too.
Those who are to be vaccinated will be kept in observation rooms for 35-40 minutes before being released, said Deputy Superintendent of Capital Hospital, Dhananjay Das said.
