Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to go ahead with drive-in vaccination

The government, apart from apprehending AEFI, had flagged the issue of possibility of wastage of vaccine during the drive-in initiative

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to go ahead with drive-in vaccination of 45-plus age group saying it has not received any specific communication from the government asking it to stop the drive.
Drive-in vaccination has been a hit here since it started in the first week of May. The idea was mooted to expedite vaccination of those in the 45-plus age group and awaiting their second dose. But the government on Wednesday wrote to all district collectors and municipal commissioners to refrain from such a practice. The letter said there is no adequate facility in drive-in vaccination to manage adverse event following immunization (AEFI).
“We will continue with the drive-in vaccination programme as the government so far hasn’t written to us to stop the practice. It has been going on smoothly and it will continue to cover as many people as possible,” BMC commissioner Sanjay Singh said.
The government, apart from apprehending AEFI, had flagged the issue of possibility of wastage of vaccine during the drive-in initiative.
As many as 400 people in the 45-plus age group took the second dose in the drive-in vaccination launched by the BMC on May 8 at Esplanade shopping mall here. Following its success, the BMC added four more facilities, including KIMS stadium, for the drive.
The BMC will also file an action taken report with the government on the drive-in vaccination, which will in turn submit it to the Centre. The Centre will file the report before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which had alleged mismanagement in the drive and sought a report from Centre.
Bijay Panigrahi, director, family welfare, has sought the action taken report on alleged mismanagement of drive-in vaccination from additional district urban public health officer Antaryami Mishra. “We are preparing a detailed report to be sent to the director,” Mishra said.
The NHRC took cognizance of the drive-in vaccination after petitioner Biswanath Dash lodged a complaint with it. The NHRC then sought a report from the health ministry, which had forwarded it to the Odisha health department. The petitioner had pointed out that in drive-in vaccination it is difficult to observe anaphylaxis (side effects) within a minute of giving a shot with the person vaccinated leaving the place immediately.

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