Odisha Govt Prioritizes Vaccination of 18-44 Age Group In 5 Municipal Corporations

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government today announced that the COVID-19 vaccine will be given to the 18 to 44 years age group in five municipal corporations, where the positivity rate of COVID-19 infection is very high, on a priority basis.

PK Mohapatra, Additional Chief Sectary (Health) wrote to the Commissioners of Municipal Corporations Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela, and all the CDM & PHOs in this regard.

Odisha has started the process of procurement of COVID-19 vaccine for vaccination of 18 to 44 year age group from the State’s own fund. Presently, the Manufacturers are able to supply low quantity of vaccines and COVID-19 vaccination of 18 to 44 year age group will be done in five Municipal Corporations of the Slate, where the positivity rate of COVID-19 infection is very high, the letter reads.

Other districts will be covered under this vaccination programme as the vaccine supply improves.

Once the district or Municipal Corporation receive the earmarked vaccine supply for 18 to 44 year age group, the same will be used in Government Vaccination Centres for inoculation of these age group.

Accordingly, the vaccination sessions will be planned for 18 to 44 years from 8.AM to 1 PM and for 45 years & above from 3 PM to 6 PM. The vaccine stock, Central supply & State supply and it utlization must be segregated and properly rcorded on dairy basis at all Cold Chain points a District level, it added.
Further, the State Government has also approved lo set up Government sponsored vaccination centres in Private Hospitals. The Private Hospitals will be used as an extension of Government CVC for vaccination of 18-44 years age group only. Vaccine will be supplied to Private Hospitals free of cost and they will be allowed to collect up to Rs. 100 per use from vaccinees as service charge.

The beneficiaries preferring to be vaccinated at these Govt. CVCs in Private Hospital premises will be getting the vaccine free of cost and they only have to pay the service charge to the Private hospitals.