Covid: Inoculation of precaution dose begins in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Drive for inoculation of precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and senior citizens with comorbidity was started in the state from Monday. Amid rising Covid cases in the state, beneficiaries came in large numbers to get their jab at their nearby vaccination centers.
People were seen standing in queues at several vaccine sites in Bhubaneswar to take the booster dose. Arrangement was made at the state assembly to vaccinate eligible assembly members and staff.
“As the third wave of Covid-19 has been started, the state government has taken necessary steps to give booster dose to persons aged above 60 years with comorbidity and other eligible beneficiaries. I along with my MLA friends and other assembly staff have taken the jabs. This third dose will provide protection from the Covid-19,” said state assembly speaker Surya Narayan Patro after taking precaution dose.
Around 17.52 lakh persons will be administered the booster dose in the state. More than 5.25 lakh beneficiaries will get precaution doses by end of this month. Inoculation is underway at 3,616 vaccination centres across the state including 1340 sites for young mass (aged between 15-18 years).
Bijay Kumar Panigrahi, state nodal officer for immunization and family welfare director, said the persons those who are eligible to take precaution dose need not to register their names again. “Their names have already been registered while taking the first dose. They can take online appointment through Co-Win portal or visit the vaccine centers to take the third dose on the spot,” he added.
He said they have increased 20 percent capacity of the vaccination centers so that the beneficiaries can take the Covid shot at any vaccine site. “First day of the vaccination drive went smoothly. No major side effects have been reported so far,” said Panigrahi.
Naveen Mohapatra, pharmacist at sub-divisional hospital Chatrapur in Ganjam district, said he did not get any pain while taking the precaution dose. “I did not get any adverse events following immunization (AEFI). I request others to take this precaution dose immediately. As we are working in a hospital, booster dose is necessary to get protection from the Covid-19,” he added.
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