COVID-19 vaccine to reach Odisha today

Bhubaneswar: Covishield, Serum Institute of India’s COVID-19 vaccine, will reach Odisha today as the first consignment of the vaccine was dispatched from Pune to several places across the country, including Bhubaneswar, early this morning.

SpiceJet airline’s Pune-Bhubaneswar cargo flight carrying Covishield is likely to arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here around 3.15 PM. The state will receive 40,800 vials of the vaccine today, reports said.

The nationwide vaccination drive will commence from January 16.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasised that India is entering into a decisive battle against Covid-19, as the country prepares for the ‘Made in India’ vaccination drive from January 16.

Making the closing remarks at the meeting with the Chief Ministers on Covid vaccine roll-out, the Prime Minister said that public representatives are not in the priority list and the first round of vaccines will be given to the frontline workers. He also said that the state governments will not have to pay for the first round of Covid vaccines as the Centre will bear the cost.