Covid vaccine, Covid vaccine drive, covid jab in city,Covid vaccination drive, Covid vaccination in BHUBANESWAR: The capital city is set to intensify the vaccination drive from Tuesday to ensure that people in the 18-44 age group get at least the first dose of Covaxin.
The vaccination of the 45 plus age group will also go on as usual, the city authorities said.
The inoculation drive had slowed down with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) temporarily suspending the administration of the first dose of the vaccines to the 18-44 population.
At present, the eligible beneficiaries between 18 and 44 years of age are getting the booster shots at four sites only, while the vaccination for the 45 plus is going on in the afternoon.
BMC commissioner Sanjay Singh said the city’s 45 plus beneficiaries will be covered soon as 2,11,890 of them have already been administered the booster dose.
“Out of the 8,57,330 doses of Covaxin being used for the eligible city residents, including the front-line and healthcare workers, altogether 3,38463 are above 45 years of age,” he added.
He further said the second dose of Covaxin will be given to the 18-44 age group within four to six weeks.
“There shouldn’t be any doubt in people’s minds about the timely vaccination.
The government will provide us with the vaccines at the right time.
We will also open new slots for the beneficiaries of the first dose among the 18-44 age group.
Until Friday, altogether 1,70,140 people of this age group had received their first dose,” the commissioner added.
To meet its requirement, the city will get 26,000 doses of Covaxin on Sunday.
Besides part of the 2.27 lakh doses of Covishield the state received on Saturday may also be used in the city.
The government may allow BMC to use Covaxin, which is meant for the 45 plus age group, for the 18-44 population.
It may also use Covishield.
So far, about 30% of the city’s target population has been fully vaccinated, officials said.
BMC officials said mobile testing vans will be deployed at crowded marketplaces to test the vegetable, fish and meat vendors apart from the grocery and other shop owners.
The testing coverage is being expanded at a time the vaccine drive is being accelerated.
The BMC has decided to facilitate the registration of eligible students wanting to go abroad for studies and for whom vaccination is a prerequisite through the 1929 call centre.
If the students register themselves on 1929 by furnishing the valid details, their vaccination will be ensured, Singh said.