Odisha: Vaccine for 18 plus in four more cities from Monday

BHUBANESWAR: More than a week after the Centre opened vaccination for 18-44 age group, the state intend to expand inoculation to only four more cities — Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rourkela — by Monday due to short-supply of Covishield.
While the process has begun in Bhubaneswar on May 3, following the arrival of 1.5 lakh doses of Covaxin which is used in the city, rest of the state had to wait for some more days.
The state received its first consignment of one lakh doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India (SII) on Saturday against the state’s need for 3.77 crore doses for administering vaccines to those in the 18-44 age group.
“Presently, as the manufacturers are able to supply low quantity of vaccines, we are starting 18 to 44 years age group vaccination only in five municipal corporations where the positivity rate of Covid-19 infection is very high. However, as the vaccine supply improves, other districts will be covered under this programme,” additional chief secretary (health) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra wrote in a letter to the district collectors and municipal commissioners.
The government hopes to get some more supply by May 15. Since SII is insisting on advance payment before sending vaccine, the state has already made payment for 4.78 lakh doses of Covishield, which it hopes to get in a week. Further payment for vaccine would be made after the present consignment is delivered, government sources said.
To widen the vaccine coverage whenever it is available, the government has decided to set up vaccination centres in private hospitals too for the 18-44 age group. Since the government will supply the vaccine, it will be provided free of cost in such centres. The private hospitals, however, can charge Rs 100 per dose as service charge.
On Saturday, a total of 67,078 does of vaccine was administered in various parts of the state, including 6,717 doses of Covaxin to 18-44 age group in Bhubaneswar. Total 61.48 lakh doses of the vaccines have been administered in the state so far. Total 11.81 lakh people have got both the doses.
On Sunday, vaccination will be held in 19 sites in Bhubaneswar. On Monday, it is planned at 669 sites across the state. However, there will be no vaccination in Balasore and Deogarh due to shortage.