Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is starting vaccination for the 18-44 years age group at five municipal corporations of the state where the positivity rate of COVID-19 infections is very high.
The five municipal corporations are Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela.
“The state has started procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for vaccination of 18 to 44 years age group from State’s own fund, Presently, as the manufacturers are able to supply low quantity of vaccines, we are starting 18 to 44 years age group vaccination only in five Municipal Corporations of the State, where the positivity rate of COVID-19 infection is very high. However, as the vaccine supply improves, other districts will be covered under this programme,” Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Pradipta Mohapatra wrote to Collectors & District Magistrates on Saturday.
“Once your district Municipal Corporation receives this earmarked vaccine supply for 18 to 44 years age group, the same can be used in Govt, Vaccination Centres for vaccinating this age group,” he added.
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Vaccination sessions for 18-44 years group will be from 8 am to 1 pm, and for 45 years & above from 3 pm to 6 pm.
“The vaccine stock (Central & State supply) and its utilization must be segregated and properly recorded on daily basis at all Cold Chain points/District level,” stated Mohapatra.
“Further, State Government has also approved to set up Govt-sponsored vaccination centres in Private hospitals. The Private hospitals shall be used as an extension of Government CVC for vaccination of 18-44 years age group only,” he directed.
Mohapatra said that vaccine will be supplied to private hospitals free of cost and they will be allowed to collect up to Rs 100 per dose from vaccinees as service charge.
Those beneficiaries preferring to be vaccinated at Government CVCs in private hospital premises will be getting the vaccine free of cost and they only have to pay the service charge to the private hospital,” Mohapatra explained.
Odisha had started vaccination for 18-44 years symbolically on May 1.
