Bhubaneswar: The COVID vaccination is not mandatory, rather getting vaccinated will be voluntary in Odisha, informed the Directorate of Medical Education And Training today.

The vaccine will be administered to health workers who want to take it. This is completely voluntary and the Government has already announced it, said DMET Director Dr. CBK Mohanty.

As per Union Health Secretary, the COVID vaccine will reach Odisha in 10 days. The vaccination programme will commence in one or two days soon after the vaccine reach the State.

"We all are prepared to execute the vaccination programme as per guidelines framed by the Centre. The country has approved two vaccines that will be administered in two doses. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered 28 days after the first dose," Dr Mohanty informed media today.

Yesterday, State Health & Family Welfare Minister had informed that the COVID vaccine will reach Odisha by January 30.

As per the guidelines, the frontline health workers will get vaccinated for COVID-19 in the first phase in the State. A total of 3.2 lakh health workers have been shortlisted in Odisha for the vaccine.

Worth mentioning, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved vaccines developed by the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech for emergency use.

The dry run for the administration of the Covid vaccine was successful in all the 30 districts of the State on Saturday.