Arunachal Pradesh to Start COVID Vaccination for 18-44 age-group from May 17

A CORRESPONDENCE ITANAGAR:

COVID Vaccination for 18+ in Arunachal Pradesh: The Arunachal Pradesh government will launch the vaccination drive for people in the age group of 18-44 years from May 17 next, Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed on Thursday. The state health department would schedule the sessions for which registration would start from May 15 onwards at the Cowin portal, Khandu said in a tweet.

"Arunachal will start vaccination for 18-44 years from 17th May 2021. Health department will schedule session and registration will start from 15th May in Cowin portal. I request those eligible to get registered for vaccination at cowin.gov.in from 15/5/2021," Khandu tweeted.

The chief minister during the day convened a review meeting with the health department officials on inoculation of people in the age group of 18-44 years besides other issues.

The government had earlier deferred the roll-out of the immunisation drive for those in the age group of 18 to 44 years from May 1, citing 'technical' issues. The northeastern state on Wednesday, received 20,180 doses of Covishield vaccine from Serum Institute of India, out of initial four lakh ordered. State Immunisation officer Dr Dimong Padung said that 2,98,924 people have been inoculated since the beginning of the vaccination programme in January.

At least 13.86 percent of total population in the state has so far registered for vaccination out of which 12.53 per cent received the first dose and 4.61 per cent received both the doses, Dr Padung added.

Arunachal Pradesh would have 500 oxygen beds with seven oxygen generating plants function, by the end of this month, Pema Khandu informed in another tweet.

"Reviewed the status of oxygen in our hospitals. Glad to know that by month end we will have 500 oxygen beds with Seven Oxygen Generation Plants functioning in the state. I have directed to work towards increasing to 1000 oxygen beds with additional oxygen generating plants," the chief minister tweeted.

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