Puducherry, Jan 16 (UNI)The much awaited vaccination programme for Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) was on Saturday kick-started in the union territory along with other parts of the country.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the programme nation wide through video conference, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy inaugurated the programme at the Rajiv Gandhi Women and Child Hospital here .The vaccination programme was started simultaneously in Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions of the Union territory.

Puducherry health secretary T Arun, Director of Medical Services Dr Mohan Kumar and others were present on the occasion. However, Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao failed to turn up.

In the first phase, the vaccine will be given to Health staffs. According to a Health Department release, around 24,000 health staffs, including 9000 from central Government Institute (Jipmer and VCRC) will be immunized. The programme will be held in eight centers in the union territory(Five in Puducherry and one each in Karaikal, Mahe and yanam).This is being conducted as per the Government of India guidelines and the session will be from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs four days in a week. Every day, 100 beneficiaries are planned to be immunized. Competent trained medical team are posted in all health facilities and the office of the Deputy Director(immunization) has made elaborate arrangements for the programme under the supervision of senior officials.

In the second phase, police, Revenue and Municipal workers will be given the vaccine followed by those above 50 years and those vulnerable for infection.

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