Achieving another significant milestone in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive, the State has fully vaccinated over 50 lakh people. “Happy to share that more than 50 lakh citizens have been successfully administered two doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the State. We are thankful to all citizens for their proactive participation in our fight against Covid19,” the Health and Family Welfare Department said in a tweet.
Over 1 lakh people were vaccinated during the past 24 hours. According to the State Covid-19 dashboard, 50,20,062 have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccines in the State, so far. A total of 2,10,62,517 doses of the vaccines have been administered in the State, till date. As many as 1,60,42,455 persons received the first jab and 50,20,062 the second shot. Moreover, 44,74,071 citizens and 5,45,991 Covid warriors have been fully vaccinated in Odisha.
Highest 26,10,036 persons have been fully vaccinated in Khordha district followed by Ganjam 22,45,290, Cuttack 12,76,979, Baleswar 10,00,498, Sundargarh 9,47,872, Puri 8,78,556, Mayurbhanj 8,62,582, Jajpur 7,37,127, Keonjhar 7,37,050, Koraput 7,28,870 and Bhadrak 7,09,071. The lowest 1,61,092 persons were administered second doses in Deogarh.
This assumes significance with experts predicting the third wave to hit the country anytime between September and October. Director, Health and Family Welfare, Bijay Panigrahi said the vaccination would gain pace from August 28 with the drive being conducted in over 100 sites daily.
However, the department on Thursday said nearly 13 lakh people have not received their second dose of the vaccine in the State.
As many as 12,95,000 beneficiaries have missed the second dose of Covid vaccine within the stipulated time, the Health and Family Welfare Department said. The department is verifying as to why the beneficiaries were not administered the second dose even after exceeding the prescribed schedule.
The State Government has set a target to vaccinate 3,9,85,000 people by December, 2021 in the fight against the pandemic. According to experts, a third wave of Covid-19 is must in India.
Recently, a Central panel of experts constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has submitted a report to the PMO warning that the possible third wave would reach its peak by lateOctober 2021.