Vaccination for 18-44 age group begins in Nagaland

May 18, 2021 48 Views No Comment

More vaccine orders placed, but govt says it has no control on supply & production

Morung Express News
Kohima | May 18

Vaccination of the 18-44 years age group in Nagaland began on May 17 with the State Health and Family Welfare Minister, S Pangnyu Phom launching the drive at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima.

The state had on May 13 received 36,580 doses of the Covishield vaccine for this purpose.

Speaking at the brief programme, Phom said the state has received the vaccine on payment as allocated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

“We have placed more orders but the State does not have any control on the supply or production of vaccines,” he stated.

Phom said COVID-19 Vaccination Centers (CVC) for 18 to 44 year age group have been placed strategically as per risk assessment with focus on the urban areas, and that all the districts have been allocated the vaccines as per population and risk of infection.

Meanwhile, he also informed that booking for next week will be announced soon and all beneficiaries have to be compulsorily registered in the COWIN portal.

While observing that there is very good demand for vaccines in all session sites as indicated by the online bookings at COWIN, the Minister reminded that COVID-19 is no longer merely a threat to the elderly or people with other medical conditions. More young people are also falling to COVID-19, he stated while stressing that vaccines are of the best tools at hand to defeat this pandemic.

To this end, he appealed to all beneficiaries to wait for their turn and get the vaccine following strict COVID-19 appropriate behaviours like mask wearing, handwashing and physical distancing.

He also urged the 45 years above age group and those with diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc to vaccinate themselves at the earliest following strict safety measures.

2.39 lakh doses administered
121 days since the launch of the vaccination drive, 2,39,564 lakh doses have been administered across the State.

With the increase in the demand of vaccine in the State, Immunisation Officer, Dr Ritu Thurr said, “it is a good sign that people are now eager to take the vaccine.” He also informed that the State has proposed an order of 4 lakh vaccines, against which 36,580 does have been received.

However, with the high demand for vaccines in the country, he maintained that the State has to wait for its slot to avail the vaccine.

Deputy Director, UIP, Dr Razoukhrielie Rio informed that around 7 lakh people have been projected for vaccination under the 18-44 years. This is as per the 2011 census.

He informed that the State Government has purchased the vaccines at the cost of Rs. 300 per dose, amounting to a total of Rs 1 crore 15 lakhs.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/vaccination-for-18-44-age-group-begins-in-nagaland