Odisha Govt Urges District Admins to Refrain from Drive-in and Door-step Vaccination

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government today urged the district administration to refrain from strategies such as drive-in vaccination and door-step vaccination.

In a letter to district Collectors and Municipal Commissioners, the Health and Family Welfare Department has asked them to refrain from strategies like drive-in vaccination and door-step vaccination, and urged them to arrange sessions in suitable Covid vaccination centres with adequate space.

As per the COVID-19 operational guidelines of Govt. of India, drive-in or door-step COVID-19 vaccination is not permitted, the Health Department said in the letter.

“The guideline clearly says that vaccination sessions shall be conducted in places with adequate space for waiting area, vaccination room and observation room and have adequate facility to manage Adverse events following immunization (AEFI). As per guideline, the beneficiaries have to be observed for at least 30 minutes after vaccination for AEFI (if any). In drive-in / door step strategies, it will be difficult to manage AEFI if it occurs and there is also high likelihood of vaccine wastage,” it added.