Even as Covid situation is not grim, vaccination drive in Odisha is set to begin from January 19.
As per the Odisha Health & Family Welfare department, the vaccination drive will be undertaken for those who have not received their second or precaution dose. Moreover, the drive will be for Covishield vaccine only.
The vaccination drive will be carried out at specific Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs) across Odisha.
Taking to twitter, the State Health and Family Welfare Department wrote: “Under the National COVID19 vaccination programme, Covishield will be available from 19th Jan 2023 in identified DHH, SDH,CHC & PHC across Odisha for beneficiaries whose 2nd dose as well as precaution dose are due. Citizens are requested to take this opportunity to get vaccinated & stay safe from COVID19.”
Health expert Narayan Mishra said, “Covishield vaccines are amply available in Odisha market. Approximately 40 per cent people are yet to take the precaution dose. Similarly, 10 per cent people have not received their second dose. Most importantly, those who had received Covaxin can also take Covishield vaccines. It has no negative impact. According to a research done recently, Covishield is better than Covaxin because the former boosts immunity power. It is absolutely safe.”
Commenting on the current Covid situation in India, he said, “There is nothing to worry as Covid situation is absolutely under control in India.”
Earlier Health expert Jayant Panda, while speaking to OTV, maintained, "There is absolutely no threat to Odisha. The case positivity rate in Odisha is 0.01 percent daily and 0.012 percent weekly. From this, it is evident that the overall Covid management has been good and there is no need to panic as of now. Due to mass vaccination in India, neutralising antibody has increased among the population."