Those received 1st COVID jab at pvt hospitals can get 2nd dose for free in Odisha

Bhubaneswar:  Odisha Health and Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi today informed that people who have been inoculated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at private hospitals can take the second jab at Government hospitals across the state free of cost.

Yesterday,  Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that the Government will vaccinate people aged above 18 years for free in the third phase of the immunization drive starting May 1.

Panigrahi further informed that if a person contracts the virus even after being administered with the first jab of the vaccine, he/she can take the second dose after four weeks of complete recovery.

Regarding availability of vaccines, the official said currently, the state has a stock of 2.05 lakh Covishield and 3.7 lakh Covaxin doses. The stock will exhaust in three to four days. Today, people are being vaccinated a 540 centres. So far, total 55,50,380 people have been vaccinated in the state, he added.

The health official further said that the third phase vaccination in the state depends on the quantity of vaccine doses the state will receive from the Centre.

Also Read: Odisha To Give Covid Vaccine To People Aged Between 18 And 44 For Free

“Once the vaccines arrive, we will share further details regarding the third phase vaccination, registration of which will begin on April 28. Odisha Government has placed order for procurement of both Covishield and Covaxin vaccines from the manufacturers,” he added.