The State Government has once again issued instructions to district Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to ensure Covid-19 vaccination of mentally-ill persons on a priority basis.
In a letter, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Health, PK Mohapatra has directed the district and municipal administrations to set up Near to Home Covid Vaccination Centres (NHCVCs) for vaccination of mental health establishments’ inmates.
Secondly, he said that the SoPs issued for vaccination of vulnerable persons who do not have a prescribed ID card for registration in Co-WIN should be followed for inoculation of the mentally-ill persons.
Further, any pregnant and lactating women in the mental health establishments should also be vaccinated following the instruction issued on July 6.
The ACS has asked the Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to submit the vaccination status reports on a weekly basis (every Monday) of such mental health establishments in their districts. They have been requested to personally monitor vaccination of mentally-ill persons and pregnant women.