COVID vaccine reaches different states

January 13, 2021 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani No comments

As the vaccination drive will begin from January 16, Covishield vaccines were dispatched yesterday and reached various states.

Serum Institute of India dispatched the vaccines from Pune to other states through flights. Delhi received its first consignment through SpiceJet flight.

States like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh also received the vaccine.

In this context, the government said that the frontline workers would get the vaccine in the first phase. Among them, healthcare workers will be given preference, followed by other frontline workers.

However, frontline workers do not have the option to choose from the two vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin. The government reiterated that both vaccines are proven to be safe.

In addition to these vaccines, four more vaccines will be released soon. Currently, they are under trials at different stages.

Regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine, the Health Ministry said that the vaccine would begin to be effective after the second dose. One must get two doses of vaccine, and there should be a gap of 28 days between these two doses.

Hence, people have to follow the COVID-19 protocols until the specified time, even after vaccination. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan urged people to continue following the safety precautions.

Meanwhile, Dr V K Paul NITI Aayog member said that both these vaccines had been tested on many people. They were proven to be safe with no significant risk. Hence, there is no need to doubt about these vaccines.

The government will bear the cost of the vaccine for frontline workers. It has agreed to pay ₹200 per dose and decided to procure 1.10 crores Covishield vaccine doses from the company. Prioritized age group will be vaccine after the frontline workers.

Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay (Free for commercial use)