Bhubaneswar: The third phase of COVID-10 vaccination drive took off on March 1 with many leaders in Odisha cutting across party affiliation coming forward to take the vaccine to set an example for the people to take the shot.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was the first leader to receive the shot on Monday in the phase meant for people of 69 years and above and in the age group of 45-59. The 74-year-old Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president took the vaccine at the Vidhan Sabha dispensary.
Naveen shared the picture of taking the vaccination in a tweet and said, “Happy to share that I took my first dose of COVID19 vaccine. Grateful to our scientists, health workers for their race against time to deliver the vaccine to people.”
“Appeal to all eligible people to come forward and get vaccinated for a Covid Free Odisha,” he added.
Bhubaneswar MP of BJP Aparajita Sarangi, who has been in the news of late over Heritage Corridor issue, took the shot at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Wednesday.
Similarly, veteran Congress leader and Jatni legislator Suresh Routray and his wife also took the first dose of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, the total number of elderly persons who have taken the vaccination has crossed 50,000. With 23,792 senior citizens taking the shot on Wednesday, their number reached 56,033 in three days.
In Bhubaneswar, 2552 elderly persons availed the injection with most of them taking it in private facilities. The city has registered 4,961 senior citizens who are already administered the vaccine.
