New COVID-19 Strain: Vaccination Of Elderly Persons To Be Intensified In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Taking note of the new mutant strain of COVID-19 in some states, the Odisha government has decided to intensify vaccination of the elderly.

Talking to the media on Tuesday, Director (Health) Bijay Panigrahi informed that 1,00,273 elderly persons were vaccinated at 927 session sites in the state on Monday. The government has now decided to open more such sites to expedite the drive, he added.

Stating that a total of 1,21,572 persons, including the health workers, frontline warriors and elderly persons, have been vaccinated in rural areas, Panigrahi said that the ASHA and Anganwadi workers are sensitizing people through door-to-door campaigns.

He claimed that this vacinne was effective against the new strain.

Stating that the number of vaccination in Angul and Boudh districts is relatively less, he said that the number will be increased gradually.

Asked whether the state government has empowered sarpanchs to identify the persons for the vaccination, he said there is no such directive. “If any such complaint is received, we will investigate,” he added.