Bhubaneswar: The first batch of COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ dispatched by the Serum Institute of India (SII) has reached Odisha.
The consignment arrived at Biju Patnaik International Airport here on a SpiceJet cargo flight from Pune via New Delhi at 3.45 pm, said sources.
The vaccines were carried to the State Vaccine Centre in three delivery vans with police escort. Tight security arrangements had been made by police for the safe transfer of the vials.
Insulated vaccine vans from every district will be stationed at the center to carry the vaccines to respective district vaccine stores. The vaccines will further be sent to 1,222 cold chain points for storage.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Pradipta Mohapatra has expressed happiness over the arrival of vaccines. Earlier in the day, he had asked collectors of different districts to send vans to transfer vaccines to their areas.
Extensive arrangements have been made for the mega vaccination drive in Odisha. The state government has identified around 160 session sites across all the districts for the Covid-19 vaccination program, and special teams have been formed to vaccinate close to 3.29 lakh healthcare workers in the first phase.
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