Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is in readiness to begin vaccination drives at around 161 centres across 30 districts on Saturdayl, officials said.
A total of 16,100 healthcare workers would receive the Covid-vaccine on the first day of the drive.
The inoculation drive will begin in all the centres as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the vaccination programme at 10.30 am on Saturday, a senior health department official said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will join the 161 vaccination sites via video conferencing, said State Vaccine Nodal Officer Bijaya Kumar Mishra.
Health and Family Welfare Department Director and Odisha Vaccine In-Charge Bijay Panigrahi said pregnant women and lactating mothers will not be given the vaccine. Those unwell and hospitalised for any other ailment will also be disallowed from taking the jab, as per the Centre’s vaccination guidelines.
Vaccination of people with active symptoms of COVID-19 will be deferred by four to eight weeks, Mishra said.People aged below 18 years and those who have been administered any other vaccine in the last 14 days, will not receive the jab, too.
The ones who are to be vaccinated will be kept in observation rooms for 35-40 minutes before being released, Capital Hospital Deputy Superintedent Dhanarjay Das said.
