India's drug regulator, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved Covovax for restricted use in emergency situations in adults on December 28 last year and in the 12-17 age group with certain conditions on March 9.
The Odisha government has so far administered the precautionary Covid vaccine doses to around 18 percent of eligible population, informed the State Health and Family Welfare department Director, Bijay Panigrahi on Wednesday.
Service charge for booster dose at private vaccination centres has been capped at Rs150, announced the Union Health Ministry on Saturday
The administration of precaution dose to those above the age of 18 years will be through private vaccination centres and the drive would start from April 10, 2022.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
Briefing reporters about the current pandemic situation in the State, Director, Family Welfare and nodal officer for Covid vaccination, Dr Bijay Panigrahi informed that the vaccination rate is low in five districts of the State, including Gajapati, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Angul and Mayurbhanj.
India charts a separate way. Addressing the nation on Saturday, PM Narendra Modi announced that children in the 15-18 years age group will now get COVID-19 vaccines starting 3rd January 2022. The government has also decided that precaution dose of vaccine will be started for frontline workers and healthcare workers and elderly with co-morbid conditions.