Manipur receives 54,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Imphal: Manipur received its first consignment of 54,000 doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport on Wednesday.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with other state health officials received the COVID-19 vaccine consignment at the airport.

Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the timely distribution of the vaccine across the country, CM Biren Singh said even though Manipur is located at the far corner of the country, PM Modi gave the state priority and provided 54,000 doses of Covishield vaccines.

“This day marks a new dawn as we received the first consignment of 54,000 doses Covishield vaccine from SII, Pune. I join the nation in thanking Hon’ble PM Shri. @narendramodi ji and Hon’ble health minister Shri. Harshvardhan ji and our brilliant scientists for delivering the Covid vaccine in record time,” said Singh on Twitter.

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According to Singh, the COVID-19 vaccine would be distributed at ten hospitals, including all district headquarters and one private hospital.

A total of 8,476 health workers will be vaccinated at ten places, including Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), and district headquarters of Churachandpur, Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Tamenglong.

PM Modi will launch the nationwide vaccination drive on January 16 via video conferencing.

As per reports, around 1.1 crore doses have been procured by the government at a rate of Rs 200 per dose, of which about 56.5 lakh doses has been dispatched by air to various parts of the country. The remaining consignment has been transported to Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra by road, accompanied by police escorts.

Moreover, frontline workers, including healthcare workers, will be given top priority for vaccination, it said.

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