Covid precaution dose administered to 18 percent people: Odisha Health Director

The Odisha government has so far administered the precautionary Covid vaccine doses to around 18 percent of eligible population, informed the State Health and Family Welfare department Director, Bijay Panigrahi on Wednesday.

Panigrahi's comment comes at a time when several states are staring at a fourth wave of Covid-19 pandemic in the country following the recent surge in cases of the virus infection.

Addressing the media, the top health official in the State urged people to vaccinate themselves with the precautionary doses before a possible viral outbreak.

On the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)'s approval to vaccines for administration to children aged 5 to 12 years, Panigrahi said the final decision in this regard will be taken by the Central expert committee on Covid-19. 

The States can only initiate vaccination of the kids after receiving permission and necessary guidelines from the Centre, said Panigrahi.

The Health director exuded confidence that as many as 3000 vaccination centres are prepared to take up vaccination of around 59,43,000 children in Odisha belonging to 5 to 12 years of age and hence, there won’t be any problem.

He further added that more than 6 crore doses of vaccines have been administered to beneficiaries in Odisha- 78 percent of teens aged 12 to 14 years have been inoculated while 88 per cent of children between 15 to 18 years of age have been given jabs.

Likewise, 96 percent of people above 18 years of age have received their first dose while 87 percent of people have been administered with the second dose, he added.