The National Health Mission (NHM), Manipur has appealed to the public to take the privilege of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and stay safe from COVID-19 infection.
As per the official date of the COVID-19 vaccination programme launched on January 16, till date a total of 29,666 healthcare workers have been vaccinated of the targeted 46,000 healthcare workers. In all, 13,784 frontline workers of the targeted 77,730 have been vaccinated.
The vaccination programme which has been taken up purely on a volunteer basis is likely to start for people above 50 years probably from March, said mission director of National Health Mission, Manipur Dr N Shyamjai while speaking to the media in Imphal on Wednesday.
He said as doctors will be inquiring about the history of allergy, medication and treatment of other diseases before vaccination so the public need not to be apprehension to visit the healthcare centre for vaccination.
The vaccine “Covishield” which is used in the state is manufactured by Serum Institute of India in collaboration with Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
The vaccines are a part of WHO led COVAX facility for effective reallocation of the vaccines across the world and the central government has announced it as a safe, effective and immune booster, he added.
So far many prominent and high ranking officers of the health care workers and frontline workers of the state have been vaccinated, Shyamjai continued.
According to official data, he said a total of 47 individuals who took the vaccine witnessed mild side effects like mild fever, itchiness, swollen skin and others. However, their health conditions have now fully recovered.
Asserting that the present days are the best time for mass vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines as Manipur is presently in the “widow period” of COVID-19 pandemic, the mission director further appealed the public to take the privilege of being vaccinated.
Meanwhile the cumulative number of COVID-19 recovered cases in the state surged to 28,836 as two more recoveries were recorded during the span of 24 hours leaving the state recovery’s rate at 95.58 per cent, stated a release issued by the COVID-19 common control room.
The number of active cases is 41 while the death toll remained at 373 with no COVID-19 death cases. Meanwhile, the state's caseload mounted to 29,250 with seven new cases, the release stated.
The seven positive cases included three from Imphal West, two from Imphal East and Bishnupur districts each, it added.
It also stated that all passengers coming from five states- Maharashtra, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat will be tested for COVID-19 with effect from Wednesday on their arrival at Imphal International Airport until further notification.
