Odisha Health Minister Writes To Centre For Immediate Supply Of 25 Lakh Doses Of Covishield

Bhubaneswar: Minister of Health and Family Welfare Naba Kishore Das on Wednesday again appealed to the Centre to release 25 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to the state immediately.

In a letter to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan, Das said presently, Odisha is vaccinating about 2.5 lakh persons daily. Due to shortage of vaccine, the state government had to close nearly 700 vaccination centres out of over 1400 functional sites. Only 755 centres could be made active on Wednesday.

“As of Apil 7, we hove stock of 5.34 lakh doses of Covishield in the state. With this stock, we would be able to continue vaccination for next two days. By April 9, there will be stock-out of the Covishield vaccine in the entire state. This would adversely impact timely administration of second dose of vaccine as well as delay in vaccination of citizens of 45 years and above,” the minister said in the letter.

Stating that this matter has been raised repeatedly by the Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare department with the Ministry of Health, Das requested the Ministry to take necessary steps for supplying at least 10 days stock i.e. 25 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to the state immediately for effective vaccination of the targeted population.

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