Bhubaneswar: COVID-19 vaccines is likely to reach Odisha two-three days before the vaccination drive scheduled from January 16, informed Bijay Panigrahi, director of Health and Family Welfare Department today.

A state monitoring committee has been formed for the smooth conduct of vaccination, he added.

Panigrahi said as many as 160 session sites have been identified for immunization drive. 100 health workers will be vaccinated at each session site on the first day. Arrangements will be made for two-way communication at two places- Sundargarh District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and Capital Hospital here, from where the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare can directedly take feedback on the vaccination.

Panigrahi further stated that the Pulse Polio immunisation drive in the state scheduled to be held on January 17, 18 and 19 has been put on hold in view of the COVID-19 vaccination.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme will be rolled out in the country from January 16. Around 30 crore people ( three crore healthcare and frontline workers and 27 crore people aged above 50 years and people aged below 50 years with comorbities) will be administered the vaccine in the first phase across the country.