As the nation is all set to launch the COVID-19 immunisation drive on Saturday, Manipur is also gearing up for the big launch. The preparation for the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination in 10 centres is almost done, Additional director and spokesperson, Health Services, Manipur, Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang said on Friday.
At least 10 doctors will be vaccinated during the launch of the vaccination drive in the state, said Dr Sasheekumar while addressing the weekly media briefing on COVID-19 update which was organised by the Directorate of Health Services and National Health Mission (NHM), Manipur, at Lamphelpat in Imphal.
“Doctors to observe the adverse effects (if any) after vaccination have been selected, and they will be assigned at all the 10 centres where vaccination is to be carried out,” he said.
RIMS Cardiologist, Dr Thokchom Sachin Deva who is among the doctors selected to be vaccinated during the launching day of the COVID-19 vaccination, said, “I am hoping that Covishield manufactured in India will be effective, and I am going to be vaccinated tomorrow”.
Allaying fears and concern of the public, Dr Thokchom said, “Many other RIMS staff are also getting vaccinated in a phase-wise manner. The people should also be vaccinated without any fear or doubts.”
“The COVID-19 Vaccination is not the sole means to control the pandemic as immunity will not develop immediately after receiving the vaccine shots. The second dose of the vaccine has to be administered after four weeks and immunity will develop only after two weeks of receiving the second dose. Therefore, people must strictly follow the SoPs,” he explained.
Will the Covid vaccination in Manipur be free of cost?
The state government will follow the rules set by the Central government that vaccines should be administered free of cost to frontline workers and healthcare workers, Dr Sasheekumar said.
However, the state government may take up initiatives to provide the vaccine at minimal cost for those who are not included in these groups under certain criteria, he added.
Dr Sasheekumar also said the public should keep in mind that pandemic is still prevailing in the country as well as in the state and appealed all to continue following the SOPs, concerning the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in some neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh.
The Additional Director said that maximum numbers of people are now violating COVID-19 SoPs with the gradual decrease of positive cases. Considering the ongoing global scenario, people must continue following SoPs or else everything will be back to square one, he added.
“It is very disappointing to see the increasing violations of SoPs in almost all public places. We should not start taking the pandemic lightly with the arrival of vaccines or the decrease in the number of positive cases. Let us continue following SoP as a fundamental duty and responsibility to curb this pandemic,” he appealed.
Dr Sasheekumar further said that the condition in the state regarding COVID-19 infection is improving as positive cases have been reducing steadily since the last two weeks. The positivity rate has decreased marginally from 5.89 per cent on December 31 to 5.81 per cent on January 14, he mentioned. Moreover, there have been no reports of COVID-19 related deaths in the last five consecutive days, he said.
But the rate of improvement is still low when compared to other Northeastern states, he added.
Meanwhile, IFP Churachandpur correspondent added that Churachandpur district CMO Dr Vumchinpau Tonsing said on Friday that the launching of the historic COVID-19 programme in the district will be attended by minister Vungzagin Valte as chief guest in the presence of Churachandpur assembly constituency MLA V Hangkhanlian; Singat assembly constituency MLA Ginsuanhau Zou; Churachandpur DC and chairman of District health society Pawan Yadav and others.
As per the guidelines, the vaccines will be first provided to the health workers followed by frontline workers; people above 50 years with comorbidities, Dr Tonsing said, adding 100 health workers will be vaccinated each day after the programme is launched.
So far, Churachandpur has collected 210 vials of COVID-19 vaccines. They contain 2,100 doses which will be stationed at seven-session sites located at PHC/CHCs of Sagang, Saikot, Hengkep, Sinzawl, Behiang, Sinzawl.
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