40,000 healthcare workers to be innoculated in phase-I
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 08 2021:
Anticipating arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines soon, Health Director Dr K Rajo on Friday said preparations are underway to inoculate as many as 40,000 healthcare workers in the phase-1 of the planned vaccination programme.
Among the frontline warriors, healthcare workers will be given the first shots of the vaccines and the remaining will be covered in the next phase, he said.
Briefing media persons at the office of the Health Services at Lamphelpat, Dr Rajo said the second dry run for Covid vaccination was held at 31 places in 14 districts excluding Imphal West and Thoubal.
The department has identified 138 Government healthcare facilities and 108 private healthcare facilities in 246 places for the vaccination programme.
25 persons will be given the vaccine at each facility, he said.
It may be noted that the first dry run for Covid vaccination was held at Imphal West and Thoubal district as part of the Nationwide mock drill for vaccination on January 2 .
The second Nationwide dry run was held today after the DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) approved two vaccines-Serum Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin to fight against COVID-19 pandemic on January 4 .
Dr Rajo continued that as per instruction of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, healthcare workers will be given the first shots of the Covid vaccines in the Phase-1 while the remaining frontline workers will be covered in the next Phase.
The Health Department has identified as many as 40,000 healthcare workers who will get the first shots of the vaccines, he said.
Expecting that the vaccination programme may start by the end of the month, Dr Rajo said the State has prepared 12 vaccine vans and 126 cold chain points for transportation and storing vaccines.
Besides involving Government agencies, the vaccination programme will engage NGOs, CSOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), he added.
Regarding rumours about the efficacy and safety of the vaccines, Dr Rajo said people shouldn't believe false information about the vaccines on social media.
The vaccines may have certain side effects but these side effects have not caused any deaths.
After administering the first dose of a vaccine, the person will be kept under observation for about half an hour.
India is launching the world's largest immunization programme.
Even in pulse polio immunization, there had been rumours that the polio vaccine decreases chances of pregnancy.
The vaccine, Dr Rajo said would not be administered by force.
The vaccine will be administered with the consent of the healthcare worker or the person concerned.
It is expected that the healthcare workers would come out voluntarily for vaccination.
There is also a plan on Information, Education & Communication (IEC) strategy aimed at creating awareness and disseminate information regarding vaccination against Covid, he added.
When enquired about Covid testing at private hospitals, Dr Rajo said a team headed by him will be monitoring the testing and costs of the tests at the hospitals.
The number of fresh infections has dropped in the State and maximum efforts are on to arrest future spikes in the number of positive cases.
Even though the situation has improved in the last few weeks, people should still exercise precautions and follow the Covid Appropriate Behaviours.
People should wear face masks, avoid crowded places and still maintain physical distancing, he said.
RIMS Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Th Sachin Deba who was present in the media briefing said the hospital has successfully treated 1524 Covid patients out of a total of 1681 cases and 112 persons have died of the disease.
There are 19 active cases in the hospital.
As RIMS is a referral centre for most of the complicated cases, the mortality rate at the hospital is 6 per hundred cases, he added.
Dr Sachin also informed that the number of Covid beds in the hospital has been reduced to 66 from 150 with decreasing number of positive cases while the 17 ICU beds for Covid remain unchanged.
Pledges were taken before the press meet to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviours.
Comment
