Bhubaneswar: As the countdown begins for massive vaccination program against the highly infectious disease COVID-19, Odisha Government expressed its fool proof preparedness to vaccinate as many as 16,100 health care workers on Saturday at 161session sites spread across the state.
The vaccination activities will begin in all the sites as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the vaccination program at 10.30 am and about 100 health care workers will be administered vaccine in each place.
“The vaccines have already reached at all the cold-chain points and a 5-member team has been readied to start the vaccination programs at all places,” Prof. CBK Mohanty, the Director of Medical Education and Training said.
On the first day, 16,100 corona warriors will take the shot in their arms. The phase –I vaccination drive in the State will continue for a period of over 12 days, the official said.
The Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar and District Headquarters Hospital in Sundargarh is connected virtually from where the center can directly take feedback on the vaccination program. Post the launch, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will join the 161 vaccination sites via video conferencing, said State Vaccine Nodal Officer.
Sources said the Chief Minister will speak to some vaccine recipients in the districts of Ganjam, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Department Director and Odisha Vaccine In-charge said pregnant women, those not sure of their pregnancy and lactating mothers, will not be given the vaccine.
This apart, those unwell and hospitalized for any other ailment will be debarred from taking the vaccine shot as per the centre’s vaccination guidelines, he added.
He said the people aged below 18 years and those taken any other vaccine within 14 days, will also not be given the vaccine. The people, who have allergic reaction to the previous dose of vaccine, will also not be given the next jab.
People with active symptoms of the coronavirus will be deferred for four to eight weeks for vaccination, the official said.
Dr.Panigrahi said the State, according to suggestions of the Health Ministry, has made elaborate arrangements to keep vigil on the adverse events following immunization (AEFIs).
The people getting the vaccine will be kept in observation rooms for 35-40 minutes before being released, said Capital Hospital Deputy Superintendent Dr D. Das.
Though the State Government has stated that there is no major side-effect of the vaccine, headache, fatigue, fever, body ache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, cold coughs, may be the symptoms after the vaccine.