Biggest vaccination drive against COVID begins in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The first phase COVID-19 vaccination kicked off in Odisha today with the immunization drive underway at 161 session sites in all 30 districts of the state.

The first vaccine shot was administered to a sanitation worker, Biranchi Naik (51), of Capital Hospital here at 11.5 AM. A total of 16,100 healthcare workers would be vaccinated today.

Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Director CBK Mohanty said extensive arrangements have been made for the mega vaccination drive. All protocols are being followed and necessary infrastructure have been created across districts for the immunization drive.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will take feedback on the immunization from two sites in Bhubaneswar and Sundargarh.  Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will interact with beneficiaries at three places. He will take feedback from a nurse of Sundargarh District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), a sanitary worker of Capital Hospital and a doctor of Berhampur City Hospital.

In Bhubaneswar, the vaccination is being conducted at six session sites: Capital Hospital, Unit IV Hospital, BMC  Hospital, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, KIIMS and SUM Hospital.

It is pertinent to mention here that the state has received 4.08 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine and 20,000 doses of Covaxin vaccine in the first lot. While 3.38 lakh healthcare workers in the state have been registered for the vaccination, the Government targets to give first dose of the vaccination to 1.92 lakh healthcare workers within a week using the available vials.