COVID-19 vaccination to be conducted at 160 session sites in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With the Centre is set to launch world’s biggest Coronavirus vaccination programme nationwide on January 16, the much-awaited immunization drive will be conducted at 160 session sites across Odisha.

“The vaccination programme against COVID-19 will be held at 160 session sites covering all 30 districts in Odisha,” informed Dr Bijay Panigrahi, State Health Director & vaccine in-charge, today.

As per the SoP, as many as 100 health workers will be vaccinated at each session site on the day of nationwide launching programme on January 16.

The health workers of different categories have been selected for getting vaccine in first phase of the massive COVID-19 vaccination programme.

“We are ready and have enough equipment for first phase of vaccination in the State,” Dr Panigrahi told media reporters.

He said that medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres and some private hospitals will participate in carrying out the vaccination programme at 160 session sites across the State.

It is pertinent to mention that the COVID-19 vaccination programme will be rolled out in the country from January 16. As per the decision by the Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry, around 3 crore healthcare and frontline workers as well as 27 crore population above 50 years age group and under-50 populations with comorbities will be administered the vaccine in the first phase across the country.

Of total health workers, over 3.2 lakh have been shortlisted to get the vaccine in Odisha.

Worth mentioning that the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved two vaccines — Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield — for emergency use.