Bhubaneswar: With the nation gearing up for the launch of its nationwide inoculation drive against the coronavirus outbreak on January 16, Odisha too joined the bandwagon and started despatching its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield to all the 30 districts in the State.
According to sources, the vials are being dispatched to 162 vaccination points where health workers will be getting first shots from January 16. More than 3.28 lakh health workers have been identified for vaccination in the first phase.
Vaccines have already reached several districts including Puri, Cuttack and Nayagarh. The vials have been stored in temperature-controlled drug store. At least 10,700 Covid warriors have been identified to be vaccinated in the first phase.
According to Puri district administration sources, as many as 7000 vials have been supplied to the district in the first phase and more vaccines will be brought to the district in next phases.
Meanwhile, Nayagarh district has received around 4,000 vaccines in the first phase. The vials have been stored at a drug store in the premises of Nayagarh District Headquarters Hospital amid tight security.
The State government has identified 160 session sites in 30 districts and five urban local bodies (ULBs) for kick starting the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16 as planned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A two-way communication system will be set up at the Sundargarh District Headquarters Hospital and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.These two hospitals will provide feedback to the Centre on the vaccination programme in Odisha through video conferencing. Only 100 health workers would be vaccinated at a single centre everyday. The vaccines will reach the vaccination centres from the district vaccine stores through cold chain points. Around 1.91 lakh healthcare workers will be vaccinated with the available 4.8 lakh doses in the first phase.
Around 50 per cent of the vaccines will be supplied from the State store to districts for first dose vaccination and the remaining 50 pc vaccines will be supplied in time for second dose of vaccination.
Additional Chief Secretary of Health department PK Mohapatra said the Covishield vaccine will be dispatched to all 30 districts and Covaxin vaccine will be supplied to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area.
“While selecting an institution for vaccination, districts have been asked to ensure that there is sufficient vaccine supply for all its healthcare workers before selecting another facility for vaccination,” he said adding that healthcare institutions (both government and private) will be prioritised for vaccination in the order of the level of care they provide.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)