The Telangana Government is all set to roll out the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 vaccination drive in the State.
Nearly 80 lakh people including medical staff, healthcare workers, senior citizens, police officials and sanitation workers would get the COVID-19 vaccine doses.
The State Health authorities have made all arrangements to vaccinate the beneficiaries.
The State Government organised 139 centres in 33 districts of Telangana.
Eatala Rajender, the Telangana Health Minister and Director of Medical Education Ramesh Reddy would be the first one to receive the vaccine at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad. The decision to first administer the COVID-19 vaccine to the State officials were taken to boost confidence amongst people.
The Governor of Telangana Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan would also participate in the vaccination drive at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS.)
Ministers, members of Parliament, members of state legislative assembly and council and public representatives down to the level of village sarpanches would be responsible for the smooth conduct of drives in respective districts.
Director of the Public Health in Telangana, G. Srinivas Rao said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would launch the programme in virtual mode at 10.30 A.M., through a video conference.
In regard to this, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) made all the necessary arrangements.
In addition, the State Government organised an observation at each centre where every beneficiary would be monitored for 30 minutes after the vaccination. Intensive care units with 5-10 beds were set up at 57 hospitals across the state to tackle any serious cases.
A maximum of 30 beneficiaries would be vaccinated at each centre. The numbers would be increased up in phases from the 18th of January
The state health authorities have identified 3.15 lakh healthcare workers in government and private institutions and registered them in Cowin application, especially developed for Covid vaccination. Today, on the first day, nearly 4,000 health workers would be given the doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Srinivas Rao said the COVID-19 vaccine would be given between 9:00 A.M., to 4:00 P.M., on every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, routine vaccination programmes for children and women would continue every Wednesday and Saturday.
Dr. Rao said, “We should be proud that Covaxin has been developed indigenously and that too on the soil of Telangana. Nobody should have any worried. If necessary, I will take Covaxin in coming days. (Sic.)”
Ramesh Reddy, the Director of Medical Education said, “We vaccinate lakhs of people every year under (the) routine immunisation programme. Reactions like pain and developing fever are not uncommon after taking vaccines. One in lakhs may have adverse reactions after vaccination and we are fully geared up to deal with this.” He further added, “After taking vaccination antibodies will be developed to face the infection. T cells get activated and antibodies kill that particular virus. If this happens we will break the cycle and if we break (the) cycle, the disease will die (a) natural death. Even if it comes back, it will not be intense.”
The state has so far received 3.74 lakh doses from the Union Health Ministry.
The drive would begin at 10:30 A.M., today.
stay tuned for further updates.
