Odisha Crosses National Average In COVID Vaccination Drive

Bhubaneswar: The COVID vaccination in Odisha has crossed the national rate with least procedural wastage of vaccine doses. This was revealed at a high level review meeting chaired by chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra here on Tuesday.

Giving details on the vaccination drive in the state, additional chief secretary, Health and Family Welfare Raj Kumar Sharma said total vaccination crossed 4.03 crore by November 13. Out of this, 2,68,04,755 persons received the first dose and 1,34,96,059 the second dose.

He further said 82.4% of 18 years and above population have received the first dose in the state against the national average of 79.8%. Similarly, 41.5% were administered the second dose against the national average of 38.4%. It has been targeted to administer the vaccination to 90% of population by November 30, he added.

Making a district-wise review of the vaccination drive, the chief secretary said, “We are now in a transitional phase of the pandemic. There has been substantial reduction in number of infected cases. At this point of time, we have to intensify the vaccination drive before the possible third wave of the pandemic.”

He also directed the district collectors to prepare the village and GP level micro plan for vaccination and ensure its 100% implementation through door-to-door survey.

Shalini Pandit, director, National Health Mission said because of adequate care in storing, transportation and administration of the vaccines, the wastage of the doses was least in Odisha.

The vaccine waste dropped to -5.3% in the state thereby saving around 20 lakh doses, she said adding that there was sufficient supply of the vaccine and the syringes.

Pandit directed to ensure that the second dose of the vaccine should always be of the same brand of the first dose without fail. There should not be intermixing of the types of vaccine between the two doses.