COVID vaccines reaching Odisha today insufficient, to exhaust in 3 days

Bhubaneswar: After Odisha Government appraised the Centre on shortage of Covishield vaccine in the state, the latter will supply 3.49 lakh doses of the vaccine today. However, the doses are inadequate and will last for three days only, informed Odisha Health and Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi.

Speaking to mediapersons, the official said “A consignment of 3.49 lakh vaccine doses will arrive in the afternoon today. But the doses will exhaust in three days. The vaccination drive is likely to be affected If the  Centre dose not supply adequate vaccines.  Hence we will again write to the Centre in this regard.”

The state COVID Vaccine In-In-charge further informed that 2,63,041 vaccine doses were administered in the state yesterday. Earlier, it was targeted to vaccinate 2 lakh people but the target has now surpassed. In five days, over 11 lakh  people have been vaccinated in the state. There is stock of 3.47 lakh doses of Covishield in the state.

Meanwhile, timing of vaccination has been rescheduled due to the heat wave, he added.

Also Read: COVID Vaccine Stock In Odisha To Last For 2 Days

“The virus is spreading faster in the second wave of the pandemic. However, the death rate is low this time. People became careless after the state witnessed a slight downward trend in COVID-19 cases. But now its high time that people should be cautious and strictly follow all safety guidelines,” Panigrahi stressed.