Times News Network
Varanasi: The first consignment of 16 boxes containing 1.58 lakhs doses of Covid-19 vaccines reached Varanasi on Wednesday.
The
vaccine consignment, which reached LBS International airport by Vistara UK-621 flight, was taken to regional drug warehouse near DDU district hospital from where the shares of 14 districts of Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur and Azamgarh divisions were dispatched by road for the commencement of the mega vaccination drive from January 16.
Vistara UK-621 flight landed with the first consignment of the vaccine at LBS International airport at 11.30am. The airport spokesman said that the vaccine boxes were immediately off loaded and taken to 5 ton capacity cold chain facility at cargo terminal of airport amidst tight security arrangements of the CISF personnel. Later, under the supervision of airport director Flt. Lt. Akashdeep, this vaccine consignment was handed over to joint director and divisional nodal officer Dr Anshu Singh and nodal officer for Corona vaccine Dr Sher Mohammad, SP (protocol) Anurag and SDM Pindra Jai Prakash.
District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that from airport the vaccine consignment had been shifted to regional drugs warehouse store amidst tight security arrangements.
When sought details about the arrival of 1.58 lakhs doses of vaccine, divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal told TOI, “This consignment contains the vaccine doses for initial phase vaccination scheduled in four divisions of east UP region. As per the list available with officials here, apart from Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur and Jaunpur districts of Varanasi division, the vaccine doses of Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Mau, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra were also packed in the same boxes.”
With the completion of the process of transportation, the officials, especially of the health department, started finalizing the preparation for the beginning of the vaccination drive scheduled to begin from January 16. The officials said that from regional drugs warehouse the vaccines will reach the cold chain storage facilities created in each district. In Varanasi, this facility has been created at the community health centre, Chaukaghat campus.