Agartala: The COVID-19 vaccination drive for those above 18 years of age will start in the next two days in Tripura, said National Health Mission (NHM), Tripura mission director Dr Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal.
The vaccination drive for the 18-44 age group was scheduled from May 1 but was reportedly delayed due to unavailability of vaccines.
Speaking with EastMojo, Jaiswal said the vaccination drive was delayed due to delay in supply of doses. “However, as the state has started receiving vaccines, the drive will be started shortly,” he said.
“We had received 15,000 doses of Covaxin, of which registration for 2,000 slots were opened in the CoWIN application. Vaccination for the first shot is currently underway in four centres in Agartala. For the remaining 13,000 doses, a session list is being prepared and registration for the vaccination will begin shortly,” Jaiswal said.
He also said that the state government has placed an order for Covishield vaccines and the first consignment of 43,000 doses will arrive in Agartala in the next two days for the vaccination of those above 18 years of age.
The mission director also said that looking at the present scenario the priority would be given to the vaccination of youth living in Agartala Municipal Corporation areas.
“A total of 24 vaccination centres would be set up for the vaccination of youths across the state giving priority to those living in Agartala,” Jaiswal added.
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Earlier on April 24, the Tripura cabinet approved Rs 133.19 crore for the vaccination of those above 18 years of age.
The Tripura cabinet decided that immunisation for all above the age of 18 years will also be free. All expenses will be borne by the Tripura government, said law minister Ratan Lal Nath.
Nath said that there are 16 lakh people in Tripura in the 18-44 age group. As a result, 32 lakh doses are required for the vaccination.
Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India said that it will sell Covidshield vaccines to the Tripura government at Rs 400 per dose. Therefore, the total purchase of doses for those 16 lakh people will cost 130.57 crore. In addition, the purchase of syringes has been estimated at Rs 5 per dose at a cost of Rs 1.63 crore. In other sectors, an additional cost of Rs 1 crore will be spent.
Meanwhile, Tripura reported a total of 466 positive cases on Tuesday taking its tally to 2,917 with a positivity rate of 5.02 per cent and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours.
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You can register yourself on Co-win application. Registration for the vaccination is likely to open in next 48 hours.