The State has received 4.08 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine and 20000 doses of Covaxin vaccine in the first lot. The wastage factor of both the vaccines is 1.11 (10 per cent). While 50% of the vaccines received would be supplied to districts for first dose vaccination, the remaining 50% vaccines will be supplied in time for second dose vaccination.
A notice of the department sent to all Collectors and Municipal Corporation Commissioners mentions that the vaccination programme would be launched from the 16th of January in 160 session sites, and thereafter, the session sites can be increased or changed so as to utilize the entire available vaccines within one week of January 16.
Two types of vaccines - Covishield vaccine and Covaxin vaccine - with a shelf life of six months will be supplied to the State. Each Covishield vaccine vial contains 10 doses while each Covaxin vaccine vial contains 20 doses.
The date of manufacture of vaccine has been mentioned on the vials, but there will be no mention of expiry date and no vaccine vial monitor. There is no Open Vial Policy for either vaccine and the vaccine should be utilized within four hours of opening the vial.
The authorities have been asked to ensure that there is Zero Wastage of the vaccine and once opened, all doses in a vial should be fully utilized. Further, the principle of 'First Expiry First Our' (FEFO) shall be followed during vaccine distribution and use at District Vaccine Stores and Cold Chain Points.
All the beneficiaries should complete vaccination using the same vaccine product, which means there is no option for inter-changeability of vaccines. Based on the present supply by MoHFW in the first lot, the Covishield vaccine will be supplied to all 30 districts and Covaxin vaccine would be supplied to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area. The amount of vaccine distributed to a district will be in proportion to the number of healthcare workers registered in the district.
Prioritization Of Health Institutions & Beneficiaries
In another development, the Collectors have been asked to include Panchayat Samiti members in the district database of Covid frontline workers for the vaccination programme. OSDMA has sought details of the PS members who have worked during the Covid-19 management as frontline workers.
The government has also prepared a chart mentioning the district-wise allotment of vaccines. So far, 3,38,777 workers healthcare workers have been enrolled in Odisha for vaccination in Phase-1.
According to sources, the State government has planned to undertake the vaccination drive on the lines of electoral exercise (voting). It is being said that the government has targeted to vaccinate as many as 3.17 lakh frontline warriors and health workers in the first phase.
While one vaccination officer will be entrusted with the task of document verification, another officer will look into the crowd management. Likewise, others will be pressed into other related activities. Each centre with three special chambers--waiting hall, vaccination room and monitoring chamber-- will be equipped with required clinical infrastructure for smooth conduct of the programme. One centre can vaccinate a maximum of 200 people a day.
“Cold chain can't be maintained if a door-to-door programme is carried out. So, people will have to turn up at the vaccination centre. At least one doctor having MBBS or BDS degree will remain in-charge of the centre," said Niraj Mishra, a health expert.
Officials said that the database of the first priority group comprising health care workers (from both the Government and private health facilities) and front line workers under integrated child development scheme have been prepared.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary to the Health and Family Welfare Department, P K Mohapatra had informed that around 8,300 vaccinators have been enlisted and 30,000 sites have been identified for the inoculation exercise.
The government has also designed multi-sectoral response system at different levels. Beginning from the State level to blocks, steering committees and task force committees have been set up. All arrangements have been made for setting up of control rooms at the state, district and block levels with necessary connectivity and logistic supports.
Health experts said that a man needs to take two shots of a vaccine. The process of immunization for a beneficiary will get completed after the second dose which needs to be taken within 21 to 30 days from the first one. The vaccine must belong to same company.
“Two doses of vaccine are required for a man. One is priming dose and another is booster. In view of the Covid-19 situation in India, a vaccine which can create maximum antibodies with one dose, should be administered,” said Sidhharth Das, a renowned Professor of Medicine.
The Government of India has aimed at covering 30 crore in the first phase which includes one crore health workers, two crore frontline warriors and remaining 27 crore are elderly citizens above 50 years of age and people having co-morbidities.