Odisha To Continue Free COVID Booster Dose Drive Till Stock Lasts

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to continue the free COVID booster dose vaccination drive till the existing stock of vaccines lasts and further communication from the Centre, reports said on Monday.

While the 75-day long drive launched as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration was slated to conclude on September 30, there has been no communication from the Union Health Ministry to discontinue it.

Therefore, the district authorities have been asked to continue to administer the precaution dose free of cost till the vaccine stock lasts, Director of Family Welfare and nodal officer of COVID vaccination Dr Bijay Panigrahy said

The central government had launched the free booster dose drive as part of the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence. The special drive was for a period of 75 days.

“Odisha still has a stock of three lakh vaccine doses and the free vaccination drive can continue for some time. If the Centre decided to provide the precaution doses like before, people will be able to get the free doses,” he said.

According to sources, Odisha was among the top-five states with around 37.5 per cent of the targeted beneficiaries getting the precaution dose during the 75-day drive. Around 58.6 pc senior citizens and 33.5 pc people of 18-59 years have got their booster shots in the state.

Of the 3.25 crore people aged 18 years and above who were administered COVID vaccines, around 1.22 crore have taken precaution dose so far. The health authorities have urged people to get their booster shots at the earliest in view of the festive congregations and the approaching winter.

More than two crore people are yet to be administered precaution dose.