Bhubaneswar: As the first phase of vaccination, exclusively for the health workers, is going on across the State since its launching on January 16, Odisha today received 1,49,760 more doses of Covaxin.
Speaking to media, Odisha Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Director Bijay Panigrahi informed, “More Covaxin doses have reached today at 8.17 am by flight. We have received today 1,49,760 doses of Covaxin and stored at our State Vaccine Store. We’ll start dispatching them from today to all the regional vaccine stores (RVS). Later, it will be distributed to all the districts. We have insulated vaccine vans at every RVS and district.”
He added, “Since January 16 the vaccination programme is being successfully underway across the State. Our performance is very well at the national level. As per yesterday’s report, we are in the third position. We will try our level best to top the list.”
He also informed, “Our yesterday’s target was 13,195 while 16,384 health workers turned up and got vaccinated.
No side-effects were also reported from anywhere except a minor reaction in one recipient. Most of the districts registered 100% achievement in vaccination. Today also the vaccination drive is on at 221 session sites while our target is 20,330 health workers.”
The Health Director further informed, “Till date, we have already vaccinated 1,30,007 beneficiaries. Two more days including today and January 25 left out. We are hopeful to reach our target. In case of any backlog, it will be all covered in the next phases. The available vaccine doses are sufficient for all our registered health workers.
The earlier hesitation for vaccination has gone down now. All the health workers are spontaneously responding.
We are alerting with SMS about the venue and time.”
“As per the decision taken by the Government, we’ll use Covaxin only for Bhubaneswar. The districts are being provided with Covishield because two types of vaccine for a place have been debarred scientifically. The beneficiary vaccinated with the first dose of a type of vaccine must take the same in second dose. There is no option of inter-changeability. Any problem may rise out of it,” explained the senor health expert.
