As the third phase vaccination of people aged between 18 and 44 years is scheduled to begin on May 1, the State Government on Thursday wrote to the manufacturers of both Covaxin and Covishield for supply of the two vaccines.
In a letter to the CMD of Serum Institute of India (SII), Additional Chief Secretary, Health, PK Mohapatra said that as per the estimated target, the State needs 40 lakh doses of Covishield in May followed by 60 lakh doses per month during June, July and August. So, the SII should start supply of the vaccine doses for the next four months. For Covaxin, the State Government urged the Bharat Biotech International to supply total 10.34 lakh doses by June 15 in two phases: 5 lakh doses by May 31 and additional 5.34 lakh. The supply should start immediately, said the Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) in a letter.
Notably, Health Director Bijay Panigrahi had on May 27 said the third-phase vaccination might not kick start from May 1 due to possible delay in arrival of the vaccines. “The possibility of Covishield vaccine reaching Odisha in the month of May is very less. Covaxin is likely to reach in mid of May. The third-phase vaccination will commence only after arrival of the vaccines,” Panigrahi had said.
