STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The State Health department is ready for the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive, and will start from Thursday. The second dose of the first phase of the drive already started on Monday, 28 days after the first dose.
The second phase of the vaccination drive is to cover police and paramilitary forces, Revenue and Disaster Management personnel and officials of the Panchayat and Rural Development department. The target of this drive is 1.66 lakh – 1.41 lakh police and paramilitary personnel; 14,000 Revenue and Disaster Management personnel; 3,000 Panchayat and Rural Development officials and 7,000 others.
Sources in the department said that they are ready for the second phase of the vaccination drive. According to departmental sources, the target of the phase 1 of the vaccination drive was 1.90 lakh doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. Till Tuesday 1.29 lakh people of this category were administered the first dose of the drive. As many as 5,429 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff were also administered the second dose of the phase 1 of the drive that started on Monday. No cases of serious and severe AEFI (Adverse Event Following Immunization) have been detected.
According to the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the first phase of the vaccination drive is to be concluded by February 25, 2021. According to sources, the 1.29 lakh people who were administered the first dose of the vaccine covered almost all doctors and nurses who come in direct contact with Corona patients. And now the first dose of the first phase of the drive is being administered to paramedical staffs who are indirectly involved in COVID treatment.
A few doctors and health officials who were administered the second dose of the vaccine of the phase 1 have shared their health status.
Director of Health Services Dr. Rathindra Bhuyan said, "I've taken the second dose. There've no complicacies. So I appeal to our health workers to come forward and get vaccinated."
GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital) Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent Dr. Achyut Chandra Baishya said, "I've taken the second dose. After taking the first dose of the vaccine, I didn't face any complicacies at all. There's no reason to be hesitant regarding the COVID vaccine as it has no major side effects."
Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr Anup Kumar Barman said, "After four weeks of receiving the first dose of the vaccine I've been administered the second dose. I'm feeling absolutely fine."
Padmashree awardee Dr. Iliyas Ali said, "I appeal to all our healthcare workers to come forward and get vaccinated."
Health City Hospital chief consultant Dr. Brajendra Lahkar said, "I've taken my second dose. I'm feeling good that I've contributed towards making India free from COVID-19."
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