Agartala, May 13 (UNI) While suspending on going vaccination programme among above 45
years age group suddenly on Wednesday, Tripura government has announced opening of third
phase vaccination of the people belong to 18 to 44 years from tomorrow after receiving the
first consignment of 15,150 shots of Covaxin.
The government spokesperson education minister Ratan Lal Nath said that Tripura had sent requisition for four lakh doses to start mass vaccination program among 18 years plus age
group. With the small amount of vaccine doses, mass vaccination would not be possible at
this moment; hence, the government has made a priority list for third phase vaccination.
He said the first consignment would be administered among rickshaw pullers, auto rickshaw
drivers, journalists, staff of High Court of Tripura, employees of power department, employees
of Food Corporation of India, Banks and Air Traffic Control from 18-44 year age group across
25 stations. Apart from that around 220 additional doses of Covaxin would be given to the
people who have registered during the trial phase of the system.
“We have already announced free vaccination for all but unless supply is ensured the schedule
of the vaccine cannot be made. This is not an exceptional case of Tripura, all over the country
the schedule of vaccination has been delayed due to inadequate supply from the companies.
However, the central government is trying to manage the supply chain in the best possible
manner and we want cooperation from the citizens,” Nath stated.
Meanwhile, the health department suddenly suspended the second phase vaccination
programme till May 16 next without citing any reason. The sources said that there has been
a shortage of second phase vaccines due to mismanagement and improper uses violating
the central government guidelines. A large number of ineligible age groups of various
influential sections have been given vaccines.
However, the state vaccine officer has declined to make any comment on the issue but
claimed that Tripura has so far received 14,68,280 doses for second phase and 14,21,280
doses have already been administered that includes first and second shots. As many as
96.2 percent of healthcare staff, 96.6 percent frontline workers and 79.1 percent senior
citizens have got the first dose of vaccine in the state. Among them 83.2 percent healthcare
workers, 82.7 percent frontline workers and 49 percent senior citizens have received the
second dose too.
On the other hand, with the crossing of the critical 10 percent mark of positive cases out
of the total Covid sample, West Tripura district administration has declared Ward No, 5, 21
and 46 of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) as containment zone from today up to
May 22 next.
Tripura has 3204 active Covid cases with 5.04 percent positivity rate and as of now 421
people died of Covid infections.
The government claimed to have been well prepared to deal with the Covid situation. As
many as 1965 isolation beds, 848 oxygen-supported beds, 68 ICU beds and 97 ventilators
are available in the state along with sufficient production of oxygen.
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