Cyclone Yaas to disrupt vaccination in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Covid vaccination is likely to be suspended in some districts in view of the impending Cyclone Yaas. While Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada districts are likely to bear the maximum brunt of the nature’s fury, the government has also issued warning to Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Cuttack districts that may witness gusty winds and extremely heavy rainfall.
“As per the IMD forecast, the eight districts would witness extremely hostile weather on May 26 and 27. Rain and wind may start from May 25. So, it will not be possible to conduct the vaccination at those places. The concerned district collectors and chief district medical officers would accordingly draw the vaccination plans/schedules and allot slots in their areas,” director (family welfare) Bijay Panigrahi said.
The start of the vaccination of the 18-44 year age group at some places may be deferred in the wake of the cyclone threat. Currently, the vaccination of the 18-44 year age group is underway in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Ganjam, Sambalpur and Sundargarh. Puri district administration that had been vaccinating only the 18+ servitors of Jagannath temple in Puri is scheduled to start the vaccination for all others under the category from Monday.
“We have issued a standard operating procedure to district collectors and asked them to take measures for storage of vaccines, Covid testing kits and other related equipment in safe places,” Panigrahi said.
Since the government offices have been functioning with less staff in view of Covid pandemic, the district collectors have been asked to adopt a suitable personnel management plan to deal with the cyclone. “We have also asked collectors to deploy mobile health teams and open medical relief centres in the affected regions. Since communication services are likely to be disrupted, major hospitals should be provided with satellite phones and ham radio sets,” another government officer said.