Odisha Prepared For Covid Vaccination: Chief Secy

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is a step ahead in preparations for COVID-19 vaccination as per the national guidelines. This was revealed at a national review meeting on Monday, where Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba assessed the state’s preparedness for vaccination.

Informing the meeting about the state’s preparation, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said “Odisha stands prepared for COVID-19 vaccination with prioritised list and well-designed multi-sectoral response system at different levels’.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said a State Steering Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary and the State Task Force Committee constituted under Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, have met to finalise the immunization strategies.

Additional Chief Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena said arrangements have been made for setting up control rooms at State, district and block levels with necessary connectivity and logistic support.

The data base of first priority group comprising health care workers has been prepared and uploaded in the national Co-Win web portal, said Special Secretary and Mission Director, NHM, Shalini Pandit. About 3.2 lakh such health and frontline workers have been placed in the list, she added.

Around 8300 vaccinators have been enlisted and 30,000 vaccination sites have been identified for administering the vaccination. Meanwhile, assessment for cold chain requirement, safe storage and transportation of vaccines have already been made and steps have also been initiated for procuring insulated vaccine vans to ensure seamless supply of vaccines to the districts.