Odisha Government speeds up booster drive for Puri servitors

BHUBANESWAR: With Covid-19 cases rising yet again across the country, the state government has accelerated the process of vaccinating the servitors of the Puri Jagannath Temple with booster dose ahead of the Rath Yatra, scheduled to be held on July 1.
The state also plans to administer the booster dose to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) employees as they would also take part in the festival.
“We recently sent a proposal to the government, seeking vaccination for the servitors, their families and STJA employees with the precaution dose. The government has approved our proposal. Special vaccination camps will be set up to administer the booster doses to servitors and our employees,” said a senior official of the Puri district administration.
The drive to inoculate those aged above 18 years with booster dose at private vaccination centres began on April 10. Also, beneficiaries, who have completed nine months after their second dose, are eligible for the booster dose.
SJTA administrator (development) Ajay Jena said they have set a target to cover at least 8,600 people (around 1900 servitors, their family members and employees of the temple administration) under the precaution dose vaccination drive. “We urge the servitors and their families to come forward and get vaccinated ahead of Rath Yatra. Our employees have started taking the booster jabs,” Jena added.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday urged devotees to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Over a million devotees are likely to take part in this year’s Rath Yatra, which was observed amid a blanket ban on participation of people in the past two years owing to the pandemic.
The administration said they will focus to detect Covid-19 infections early among the families of servitors by spreading awareness, house-to-house survey and timely treatment.