Bhubaneswar: A high-level review meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra in Lokseba Bhawan conference hall here today.
With wide applaud in containing the spread of COVID pandemic through a community-based management model under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha is now on fast track towards achieving hundred percent vaccination of the population above 18 years of age.
The vaccination rate in Odisha has also gone above the national rate with least procedural wastage of vaccine doses, it was observed.
Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare Raj Kumar Sharma outlined the issues relating to vaccination in different areas for discussion.
Taking a district-wise review of the progress, Chief Secretary Mahapatra said, “We are now in a transitional phase of the pandemic. There has been a substantial reduction in the number of infected cases. At this point, we have to intensify the vaccination drive before the hit of the possible third wave of the pandemic.
Mahapatra directed the Collectors of all the districts to prepare the village and GP level micro plan for vaccination. He also directed to ensure cent percent implementation of the micro plans on campaign mode through the door-to-door survey. The districts were asked to intensify the campaign and open more vaccination centers at the village and GP level.
Outlining the discussion, Additional Chief Secretary Sharma said that the total vaccination in Odisha crossed 4.03 cr by November 13, 2021. Out of this 2,68,04,755 persons received the 1st dose, and around 1,34,96,059 received the 2nd dose.
The portion of 18 + population who received 1st dose was 82.4% against the national average of 79.8%. Similarly, 41.5% of the population received the 2nd dose against the national average of 38.4%. Target was set to accomplish 90% administration of the 1st dose by 30 November. Chief Secretary Sri Mahapatra directed to step it up to cent percent by end of December.
Presenting the updates, Director National Health Mission Shalini Pandit appraised “that because of the proper care in storing, transportation and administration of the vaccine, the wastage of the doses was least in Odisha. The vaccine waste dipped to -5.3% in the State thereby saving around 20 lakhs of the doses. She also said that there was sufficient supply of the vaccine and the syringes. Districts would be supplied more as per their demand.
Pandit directed to ensure that the 2nd dose of the vaccine should always be of the same brand of the 1st dose without fail. There should not be intermixing of the type of vaccine between the 1st and 2nd dose. She also directed to ensure administration of the second dose within the specified time limit of the first dose.
Joining the meeting over the video conference, Collectors of all districts appraised their field level preparation for scaling up the vaccination and covering of all left out cases. Senior officers of the Department of Health & Family Welfare participated in the meeting with required data and circulars.
