COVID-19 vaccination drives across Northeast States launched

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ITANAGAR/ SHILLONG, Jan 16: Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya along with the other North East States lauched vaccination drives on Saturday. In Arunachal Pradesh he COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday along with the rest of the country, with Dr Deka -- Associate Prof of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) at Naharlagun here -- becoming the first person in the State to get the dose.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the State-wide drive at the KDS District Hospital, Tawang, which has also launched simultaneously in nine-session sites identified in the State including KDS District Hospital, Bakem Pertin General Hospital Pasighat in East Siang district, Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) Naharlagun, district hospitals at Namsai, Yingkiong (Upper Siang), Seppa (East Kameng) and Longding districts besides general hospitals at Ziro (Lower Subansiri) and Aalo in West Siang district, said Dr Jampa said.

While Home Minister Bamang Felix launched the vaccine at TRIHMS, Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang launched it at District Hospital in Yingkiong, the headquarters of Upper Siang district.

Senior Medical Officer, Dr Thutan Tsering of Khadro Drowa Sangmo (KDS) Hospital at Tawang became the first of the district to be administered the Corona vaccine in presence of Khandu, as part of the first leg of the country wide COVID-19 vaccine drive. Khandu congratulated Dr Tsering and said the first step towards victory over corona virus has begun. He also lauded the health workers of the district for containing the virus despite being one of the most visited place by tourists in the region. Later, Khandu visited the under-construction IPD ward of the district Hospital and took stock of the progress from the DC, DMO and the Medical superintendent. He also visited the temporary indoor patient block and interacted with patients besides distributing fruits and essentials. Also present on the occasion were Tawang MLA Tsering Tashi and officials of the district.

A total of 100 beneficiaries each, are listed at the nine session sites as per CoWin application, and the vaccine was administered to a total of 900 beneficiaries on Saturday, said Dr Jampa. The State received a total 32,000 doses of Covishield vaccine, a product of Serum Institute of India, from the Centre. The vaccines have been allocated to all districts and have already reached the respective district vaccine stores. The State has 195 cold chain points for storage of COVID-19 vaccines.

A list, with details of 23, 505 Healthcare workers, including 3,867 vaccinators and 483 health workers from ITBP, have been uploaded in the CoWin web portal, said Dr Jampa adding that details of around 28,000 frontline workers were also uploaded there.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh recorded four more COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total caseload in the State to 16,802. Among the fresh cases, two were detected from the Capital Complex Region while one each from Changlang and East Siang districts respectively.

Of the total cases two are symptomatic. All the cases were detected through Rapid Antigen Tests, said State Surveillance Officer Dr Lobsang Jampa.

Meanwhile, eight more persons were cured on Friday, taking the recoveries to 16,682. The recovery rate is 99.28 per cent. The State now has 64 active Coronavirus cases, while 56 people have succumbed to the infection so far. The fatality ratio is 0.33 per cent. The Capital Complex region along with West Kameng district have the highest number of active cases at 19 each, followed by East Siang (8).

Meghalaya also launched the anti-COVID vaccine in nine districts of the State. A total of 832 Health workers received thier first shot on Saturday. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma formally launched the vaccination programme at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Science (NEIGRHMS) here.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister spoke said, "We will be reaching the other districts that are uncovered. We have been fighting and will be fighting the COVID-19," said Sangma, adding that there has not been a big toll in the State because of strict vigilance and public cooperation.

The second and third phases of the vaccination drive is slated to commence next week. As on date, the State has registered 13,693 infected patients and 144 deaths.

IANS adds: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Health Minister M.K. Sharma, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Bamang Felix and Mizoram Health Minister R. Lalthangliana formally kick-started the vaccination drive in the respective State capitals.

In Mizoram, a woman Healthcare worker Lalmuanpuii, 44 was the first recipient of the vaccine, at the Aizawl Civil Hospital. State Immunization Officer Lalzawmii informed in each of the centres 100 numbers of health workers were administered the vaccine in the first phase.

Lalzawmii said that there was no report of any untoward happening to any person during and after the vaccine shot.

In Sikkim, launching the immunization drive, Chief Minister Tamang said that the vaccination programme is a great example of "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both the vaccines were manufactured in India.

He highlighted that the cost of Indian vaccines is significantly lower than those manufactured outside.

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