COVID-19 Graph Declining In Odisha; Roadmap Prepared For Vaccination Drive, Says Health Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has prepared a detailed roadmap to undertake the vaccination drive against COVID-19, said State Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Das on Sunday.

While talking to reporters, Das said the Centre has already issued comprehensive guidelines and the State government has already formed committees at district and block levels other than the committee at the chief secretary level to ensure hassle-free implementation of the vaccination drive.

“Odisha Chief Minister had earlier announced that senior citizens and frontline COVID-19 warriors will be vaccinated in the first phase once the vaccine is rolled out,” said Das.

The State government has already prepared a database of nearly 3.17 lakh frontline health workers, who would be given Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase.

Due to proactive efforts of the State government, there has been a steep decline in the daily COVID-19 count in the past couple of weeks. The efforts of the State government in tackling the COVID-19 situation has been praised at the national and international level, said Das.

On Saturday, the State government Odisha had constituted State and district level committees on Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) to track side effects people may experience after getting their first shot of a coronavirus vaccine.

The 21-member State-level AEFI committee will be headed by the director of family welfare while the chief district medical and public health officer will head the 14-member district-level committee.

Earlier the Odisha government had announced to fast track the establishment of an advanced vaccine manufacturing unit with an investment of Rs 300 crore at Andharua on the outskirts of the Capital city.