Staff Reporter: Aizawl, January 14
Mizoram is expected to receive around 18,500 doses of Covid-19 vaccine on Thursday for the commencement of the nation-wide vaccination process on Saturday, official spokesperson on COVID-19 Vaccination Drive, Dr. Lalzawmi, State Immunization Officer of the state health department said.
Dr Lalzawmi told that while the first batch of (18,500 doses) vaccine was expected to arrive at Aizawl on Wednesday, absence of direct flight from Pune where Covishield, the Serum Institute of India's coronavirus vaccine is being manufactured forced the delay in transportation of the vaccine.
"We were informed that the first consignment of Covishield would be brought to Aizawl from Pune via Kolkata on Thursday by flight," she said.
She said that the recipients would be given 2 doses - first on January 16 at 4 designated places while the second dose would be administered after 28 days.
The designated premises for administering the vaccine area- Aizawl Civil Hospital, Kulikawn Sub-District Hospital in Aizawl, Urban PHC at ITI locality in Aizawl and Civil Hospital at southern Mizoram’s Lunglei town.
While 100 health workers would be given the Covishield in each designated premises, the total number of people to be administered the vaccine on Saturday is proposed at 400 people, she said.
"The Covishield vaccine, not used on January 16 would be kept for the second dose as each person is proposed to be given the same vaccine," she said, adding that different arrangements would be made if Covaxin, manufactured by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.
Meanwhile, office Chamber of the State Immunization Officer, Directorate of Hospital & Medical Education premises at the New Secretariat, in Khatla locality was notified by the state government as State Control Room for COVID 19 Vaccinations in view of the ensuing Covid- 19 vaccine in the state.
(Source: Newslink Vol-XXIII No.5 Aizawl January 15, Friday 2021)