GUWAHATI: The COVID-19 vaccination programme will start from 16 January in Assam, informed state Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday. A total of one lakh fifty-six thousand people have so far registered for vaccination.
The State Health Department is currently capable of vaccinating one lakh ten thousand people.
“We have received 2 lakh 20 thousand vaccine vials. A total of 1 lakh 56 thousand people (Covid warriors) in Assam have registered for the vaccine and we are capable of inoculating 1 lakh 10 thousand people. There will be two doses of the vaccine which will be given at separate intervals,” Dr. Sarma told News Live.
Doctors, nurses, sweeping staff (Covid Warriors) will get the vaccine doses in the first phase.
In the second phase, teachers and police personnel will get the vaccine, while people above or below 50 years of age but suffering from co-morbidity will be administered vaccines in the third phase, said Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The vaccination will start from 16 January in 59 centres across the state including Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh where Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will be present during the drive. Whereas, Himanta Biswa Sarma will be present at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Meanwhile, ministers, MLAs and journalists have not been listed among the frontline COVID warriors and will not get the vaccine during the three phases.
On Tuesday, the first consignment of 2.40 lakh vials of COVID-19 vaccines for Assam and Meghalaya landed at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati. The second consignment of Covishield vaccines arrived on Wednesday morning.
