By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 16 Jan: Along with the rest of the country, vaccination for Covid-19 began in Uttarakhand too today. The first vaccination was administered in the state at 11 pm, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the vaccination drive for Covid-19. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat was present in Doon Medical College Hospital to witness the vaccination launch in the state. On the first day, 2226 registered health workers were administered the first dose of the vaccine across the state in 34 Covid Vaccination Centres (medical units) identified for the purpose. This is 70 percent of the target vaccinations for the day.
Ward Boy Shailendra Dubey was the first person in Dehradun to be administered the vaccine and the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat was present in the new OPD Building of Doon Medical College Hospital on this occasion to witness the launch of the vaccination drive in the state and he wished success for the vaccination drive on the occasion.
The CM said that the corona vaccine was completely safe and he urged people not to be influenced by rumours regarding the safety of the vaccines. Vaccination for Covid-19 was launched in all the 13 districts of the state today. In the first phase vaccines are being administered to doctors and health care workers in the country.
Chief Minister Rawat said that today the world’s biggest vaccination campaign had been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He reminded that the state had received 1.13 lakh vaccine doses in the first phase. In the initial phase around 50 thousand health care workers have been registered to receive the vaccines. Following this, vaccination of frontline workers, people above 50 years of age and co-morbid would be taken up.
The CM praised the health care workers for working under odd conditions and managing the control of Corona pandemic to a great extent despite risks to their own lives. He also said that Doon Medical College Hospital staff worked hard to minimise the death rate due to Covid infection. The CM appealed to the public to avoid getting misled by negative rumours in respect of the safety of the vaccines. He also reminded the people that care had to be taken even after vaccination to protect against Covid, as it would take 2 weeks after the second dose on 28th day to develop immunity and antibodies against the Covid-19 virus. Till then there was a need to remain very cautious. He said that in view of the Kumbh Mela, Centre had been requested to provie 20 thousand additional vaccines. On this occasion, Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama, MLA Khajan Das, Health Secretary Amit Negi, Secretary Dr Pankaj Pandey, Director General Health Amita Upreti were also present.
While in Dehradun, among those administered vaccines included PRO Sandeep Rana, District Tuberculosis Officer Dr Kundan Kumar received the first vaccine at Pithoragarh Women’s Hospital. CMO Nainital Dr Bhagirathi Joshi informed that vaccination had started in Nainital district after the PM’s address. The first vaccine was given to STH’s Medical Superintendent Dr Arun Joshi. Dr Amarjit Singh, a corona nodal officer at Kashipur LD Bhatt Hospital, received his first corona vaccine in district US Nagar. Vaccination was also carried out at the base hospital in Kotdwar. Pharmacist Ganesh Prakash Dimri got the first vaccine at CHC in Naugaon. The first vaccine was administered to Asha worker Sanjita at primary health centre in Roshanabad in Haridwar district. Sushila received her first vaccine vaccine at the Covid Vaccination Centre set up at the Medical College. Vaccination card was given to all health workers after vaccination. At the District Hospital Bageshwar, Dr. Munna Lal was first one to be vaccinated. After vaccination at Tanakpur Trauma Centre, Deepak Kumar and pharmacist Mahesh Bhatt were kept in the monitoring room. ACMO Dr Harendra Malik got the first vaccine in Rudrapur. Dr Chanchal Singh received his first vaccine at Almora Base Hospital. After the introduction of the vaccination campaign, the first vaccine was administered to health worker Shiv Singh Negi in Rishikesh. Apart from this, vaccination was done on the first day in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag districts also. All those getting vaccinated today were kept under observation for over half hour before being allowed to leave the medical unit concerned.
