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EM Bureau
Khm/Mkg/Wokha/Dmr, May 17 (EMN): Nagaland's Minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom on Monday launched the Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield to be administered to the citizens aged 18-44 years.
A brief programme was held at the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare in the presence of Principal Director Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao and senior officers of the department.
Speaking during the launching programme, the minister expressed his happiness at the launching of the vaccination for the age group of 18-44 years, in addition to the ongoing vaccination drive. He maintained that the state has received 36,580 doses of the Covishield vaccine on payment as allocated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
Phom asserted that the state has placed more orders, however said “but the state does not have any control on the supply or the production of vaccines".
Expressing his happiness, the minister informed that there was very good demand in all session sites as indicated by the online booking at CoWIN.
"Covid-19 vaccination centres (CVC) for the 18 to 44 year age group have been placed strategically as per risk assessment with focus on the urban areas", he stated.
The minister also informed that all districts have been allocated the vaccines as per population and risk of infection and stated "Booking for next week will be announced soon and all beneficiaries have to be compulsorily registered in CoWIN portal".
He maintained that Covid-19 is no longer a disease of the elderly or just people with diseases and added that 'more and younger people are also falling to Covid-19' adding that 'vaccine is one of the best tools we have'.
In this regard, he appealed to all beneficiaries to wait for their turn and get the vaccine following strict Covid-19 appropriate behaviours like wearing masks, hand washing and physical distancing.
The second dose should be availed only after 12-16 weeks as revised by the MoHFW, he added.
Meanwhile the minister updated that 2.39 lakhs doses have already been administered across the state safely in the high-risk groups, and he further urged the other groups like 45 years and above and those with diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc to vaccinate at the earliest following strict safety measures.
Meanwhile, state immunisation officer (SIO), Dr. Ritu Thurr stated that there is a demand for vaccines in the state and he said, "Vaccine eagerness has really increased, it's a very good sign".
He maintained that initially the state was having vaccine hesitancy but with time there's a huge demand for vaccines.
He also acknowledged the political support of the state, the health workers in carrying forward the vaccination in the state.
The officer informed that the government of India had changed the vaccine policy- channelising into different phases -- that of four lakh vaccines that the state had proposed, 36,580 Covishield were received -- and owing to the high demand for vaccine from across the country, the state has to wait for its slot to get the vaccine.
Thurr also informed that the state had about 37% population of people from the age group of 18-44 years as per the last 2011 census keeping it projected for vaccination.
The officer added that in the state there were minor cases reported of Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) after receiving the vaccine. He went on to inform that 38 cases were reported and out of that one severe case was reported in Wokha district but was taken care of and there are no other complications.
Further he also informed that, the stock of vaccine available in the state for administration of the third phase (18-44 years) may last till the month end of May.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director (UIP), Dr. Razoukhrielie Rio informed that the AEFI case reported at Wokha district came under severe case as the person had to be hospitalised. He however added that it was a 'minor one'.
The official further informed that no report of death was recorded in the state so far, relating to the vaccination.
He informed that the department has been informed by the Centre that 14550 doses of vaccines will be made available to the state by the Health ministry for people above 45 years above, this week.
Rio maintained that the state government had procured the 36580 doses (meant for 18-44 years) with INR 1.15 crore which amounts to INR 300 per dose and ‘it will keep procuring more’.
Mokokchung: A source from the Health department disclosed that a total of 334 beneficiaries had received their first jabs and few remaining booked beneficiaries were waiting for their turn on the first day of the vaccination drive for people aged 18- 44 years, till the filing of this report.
DPO Dr. Ayangla Saku informed that vaccination drives for 18 years plus were being administered on Monday and Tuesday at Dr. Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) and Urban Primary Health Centre in Yimyu ward. For 45 + the vaccination day is on Wednesday and Thursday, she added.
She, however, said that beneficiaries need to register and book their vaccination slots through Aarogya Setu/ www.cowin.gov.in to receive the jab. She informed that the allotted slots per day at IMDH are 250 and 100 slots for Urban Primary Health Centre.
Community Health Centre (CHC) at Tuli, Changtongya and Mangkolemba will also start administering the vaccine jabs on Tuesday; the allotted slots are Tuli CHC (150 slots), Changtonya CHC (100 slots) and Mangkolemba CHC (100 slots), it was informed.
Dr. Saku further informed that the district’s target for vaccinating18 years above is 1050 jabs in a week.
A reliable source from the Health department said that for the kick-off vaccination programme for 18 years above, the district has received 3500 doses from the state and more doses will be arriving soon to strengthen that vaccination drive.
Source also added that the vaccination progress in the district is going well and the public response is good. ‘Last Friday when we opened the portal for booking of vaccination all the slots were completely booked within 30 minutes,” the source said.
Wokha: Covid-19 vaccination for 18 to 44 years was launched in Wokha district by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. CW Tungoe at Urban Primary Health Centre, Orchid colony Wokha town, an update informed.
Dr. CW Tungoe informed the beneficiaries to avail the free vaccine on Tuesday and Thursday at the session site and book their slots beforehand from the CoWIN app or Aarogya Setu App. The chief medical officer also reminded the beneficiaries to follow covid appropriate behaviours even after vaccination as full immunity develops only after the second dose. He monitored the vaccination process at the session site and encouraged the health workers to be efficient while performing their duty. Wokha District Hospital with 200 slots successfully vaccinated around 160 individuals while 200 slots at Urban Primary Health Centre, Orchid Colony successfully vaccinated 171 individuals.
CMO office Wokha informed that another 400 individuals in the age group of 18-44 years would receive their first Covid jab on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the CMO confirmed that Wokha received a consignment of 3000 doses for the age group of 18-44 years as of now.
Further, on a second random test conducted in Wokha town at IOC Gas station in NST area and Niropen colony, banks staff operating in Wokha, PWD colony and APMC, a total number of 109 people were administered a random test where one person tested Covid-19 positive through Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
Tuensang: In Tuensang district, the third phase of Covid-19 vaccination began at District Hospital Tuensang. More than 180 beneficiaries received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Monday.