Covaxin doses will be given in Ganjam dist

Bhubaneswar: The State government has decided to give Covaxin doses in Ganjam district from this month.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health, PK Mohapatra has written a letter to Ganjam Collector and Berhampur Municipal Commissioner, in this regard on Friday.

He said the government has taken a decision to introduce Covaxin vaccine in the district of Ganjarn from July 2021 for vaccination f 18 years & above citizens.

Covaxin will be supplied to the district from this month for vaccination of beneficiaries, who have not received any Covid-19 vaccine. Covishield will be supplied only for the beneficiaries, who have received first dose and waiting for the second one, Mohapatra said.  

He asked the Ganjam Collector and Berhampur Municipal Commissioner to submit the month-wise requirement of the Covishield vaccine. They have been directed to conduct special sessions to vaccinate second dose of Covishield.    

He further advised to orient all medical officers, supervisors, programme managers, verifiers and vaccinators regarding use of Covaxin vaccine and vaccination schedule (gap of 4 to 6 weeks after first dose), route of administration and management of AEFI cases etc.

Both Covishield and Covaxin are not interchangeable. Therefore, the officials instructed to ensure that only one vaccine (either Covaxin or Covishield) will be inoculated to one person.

At present, Covaxin is being administered only in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area. Covishield is being given in all other places of the State.