Vaccination for 18-44 years from Monday: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 14 2021: Announcing that Covid-19 vaccination for people belonging to the age group of 18 to 44 years would commence from May 17, chief minister N Biren Singh has assured that incentives would be given to doctors, nurses and other medical personnel involved in Covid-19 treatment/duty and drivers and handymen transporting oxygen cylinders from other states.

In a video message to the people on Friday, the chief minister informed that the state had received 39,000 doses so far for the vaccination of people in the age group of 18-44 years.

He urged all those belonging to the age group to register themselves on www.cowin.

gov.in or Arogya Setu App or UMANG App to receive vaccination schedule on their phone.

Informing that around 3,50,000 people of the state have been vaccinated so far, the chief minister also conveyed that around 9000 people in every district are getting the Covid vaccine every day.

The vaccination process will not be halted, he affirmed adding that approval has been given for setting up of vaccination centres in areas where there is no CHC, PHC and Wellness centre after consulting with local MLAs and DC concerned.

Exhorting all who have medical oxygen cylinders at home to donate to the government considering the ever-increasing demand for the same in the hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, the CM assured that all these cylinders would be returned to the respective owners after the pandemic is over.

He also allayed apprehension of the public over the pandemic situation with the assertion that the government is making all possible efforts and necessary arrangements to tackle the contagion effectively.

Lauding the efforts of doctors and nurses in combating Covid-19 pandemic, N Biren further announced that doctors, nurses and all other personnel, who are directly involved in COVID-19 treatment/duty would be given incentives of Rs 500, Rs 400 and Rs 150 per day respectively.

The drivers and handymen, who are transporting oxygen cylinders from other states, would also be given Rs 1000 and Rs 500 per trip respectively, he added.

Although generation of medical oxygen in the state is said to have been increased in the past few weeks with committed efforts from the state government, the chief minister revealed that more medical oxygen consignments are being brought in from Nagaon, Silchar and Dimapur round the clock.

He further informed that the current daily oxygen requirement in the state has increased to 1200 D-Type cylinders and 450 B-Type cylinders.

As such, the government is trying to explore all possible means to ensure there is no dearth in oxygen supply, the CM stressed while adding that oxygen generating units of different capacities would be set up in all the districts at the earliest.

In addition to the 50 oxygen concentrators which the state received a few days back, around 1000 more concentrators would be arriving in the next couple of days, he added.

Pointing out that RIMS, JNIMS and Shija Hospitals have their own oxygen generating units, N Biren said that the newlv installed units in Churachandpur and Thoubal District Hospitals are also likely to start functioning within May 17.Regarding manpower, the chief minister said that 230 doctors and 178 new nurses have been engaged on contract basis to meet the manpower requirement.

He assured that more ambulances would also be provided to some hill districts soon.

Highlighting that the State Technical Expert Committee had approved use of Ivermectin tablets by Covid-19 positive patients, N Biren recounted that the medicine was prescribed by doctors during Covid first wave as well.

Now, Ivermectin tablets along with Vitamin C, Zinc, D3 tablets and pulse oximeters would be distributed free of cost to patients in home isolation, he added.

Reiterating that joint efforts are being made to overcome the pandemic, he urged the people to fight it with confidence and stop panicking.

Adherence to SOPs, timely prevention and early treatment arc the only means to effectively tackle the virus, he reminded.

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