Odisha: Vaccines reach distribution point under police escort
BHUBANESWAR: The Covishield vaccine consignment, which arrived here on Tuesday afternoon, were taken to the state vaccine store under police cover. A police van escorted the three vehicles that carried the vaccine from the airport to the vaccine store in front of Ram Mandir on Janpath.
“We have posted armed security guards at the state vaccine store. There will be round-the-clock vigil,” DCP (Bhubaneswar) Umashankar Dash said.
The state police headquarters has directed everyone concerned to ensure foolproof security for the vaccines during their transportation to the districts. “We have asked deputy commissioners of police (Bhubaneswar and Cuttack) and the SPs to coordinate with the district administrations and chief district medical officers for compliance with security-related matters during transport and storage of vaccines,” additional director general of police (law and order) Yashwant Jethwa told TOI.
Sources said SPs of Maoist-affected districts have been asked to undertake special security measures when transporting the vaccines to the storage and vaccination centres. If required, police patrol vans will accompany the transporting vehicles from the state storage point in Bhubaneswar to other places.
The police headquarters has also alerted SPs to prevent the sale of fake Covid-19 vaccines. Police had arrested a man, Prahallad Bishi, from Bargarh district in September last year for allegedly manufacturing and attempting to sell fake Covid vaccine vials in the market.