Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will begin Covid-19 vaccination drive for population above 50 years of age from March 1. The announcement was made by Dr Jayant Panda, the Technical Spokesperson of the State Health and Family Welfare Department on Monday.
"The State government has decided to inoculate people above 50 years of age from March 1. The vaccination drive will begin after registration of those citizens," said Panda.
Meanwhile, the second round of Covid-19 vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) began today at several hospitals and healthcare centres across Odisha. The second phase immunization drive will continue till March 15.
The second dose of the vaccine, scheduled to be administered post 28 days of the first dose, is being administered to those beneficiaries who were covered in the first phase of immunization.
Meanwhile, as many as 200 CRPF jawans received Covaxin shots at the CRPF Group Centre in Bhubaneswar on Monday. IG, CRPF, Odisha Sangram Keshari Mohanty launched the vaccination drive.
"The jawans will have to first register themselves by providing their identification proof. Then verification will be done following which they will have to fill a form. Following the paper works, they will be administered the vaccine," said a senior official of CRPF.
A total of 800 CRPF jawans will be inoculated during the 4-day vaccination drive at the CRPF campus.
Similarly, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel received the first shot of vaccine at a camp organized at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in the city.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has extended the timeline for the first dose mop-up vaccination for remaining healthcare workers till February 25.
Odisha had achieved 85 percent vaccination coverage in the first phase till Saturday. As the State failed to achieve 100 percent Covid-19 vaccination coverage, the Centre extended the deadline for the completion of first dose vaccination of all healthcare workers.
Over four lakh mark beneficiaries have so far received the vaccination in the first phase of the immunization drive.
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