Bhubaneswar, Jan 16 (UNI) The immunization drive against Covid 19 started at 161 vaccination sites stations spread over 30 districts of Odisha this morning along with the nationwide vaccination drive this morning.
The 161 vaccination sites included five Municipal Corporations and the AIIMS hospital, Bhubaneswar.
The vaccination drive started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the drive-through video conferencing.
Additional Chief Secretary P K Mohapatra said the vaccination drive started at 1105 hrs in the capital hospital. The immunisation will continue till 1700hrs.
He said the vaccination will begin again from Monday after a break tomorrow.
As many as 16,100 Health Care Workers are scheduled to be vaccinated against Covid-19 on the first day of the drive today.
In Odisha 3.28 lakh Health Workers have been identified for inoculation in the first phase of. Vaccination. As many as 1.92 lakh Health Care Workers are scheduled to be vaccinated in the first phase. The first phase of vaccination is targeted to be completed in 12 days.
Mr Mohapatra said a class IV staff of the capital hospital, took the first shot followed by the Director of the hospital of the facility.
Official sources said the vaccination drive was going on smoothly and there were no reports of any side effects received from any beneficiary so far.
Odisha has got 4.08 lakh doses of Covishield and 20,000 doses of Covaxin vaccines for the first phase of vaccination.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik interacted with the Health Care Workers who were vaccinated at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, female health workers of Sundergarha and a doctor of Berhampur and congratulated them.
During the interaction, they told the Chief Minister that they were all fine and have no side effects.
Describing the immunisation drive as the most important and the largest programme, Mr Patnaik sought the cooperation of all particularly the health care workers for the smooth and successful implementation of the vaccination drive.
The Chief Minister said Odisha has managed to successfully fight Covid with the cooperation of all. The state figured in the list of states with the highest recovery and lowest fatality rate in the country.
Congratulating the scientists, the Chief Minister said the scientists have brought laurel to the country by preparing the Covid vaccine at a record time.
Mr Patnaik hoped that the health workers would work with more dedication and self-confidence after being inoculated
He said we cannot forget the service and the sacrifice of the Covid workers who have been serving for the last ten months risking their lives adding we are proud of them.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said, “This is a historic day for the citizens of India. Corona warriors will be administered Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase. Everyone has a crucial role in the immunisation drive.”
Odisha Director Health and Family Welfare Department and in charge of Odisha Vaccine programme Bijay Panigrahi said pregnant women, lactating mothers, people below 18 years of age and who have been administered any injections during the last 14 days would not be inoculated.
People with active symptoms of COVID-19 will be deferred by four to eight weeks, he said.
UNI BD RN