Assam to get COVID-19 vaccine between January and July 2021: Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI:

Assam Health and Family Welfare minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, informed that the State has been asked by the Centre to “be ready for COVID vaccination between January and July next year”

Making this significant announcement on Tuesday, Sarma said the frontline staff and population above the age of 60 years would be the priority segments and therefore the first to be administered with the vaccine.

“We have over the past few days been in constant touch with the central health authorities through meetings and video conferences.

He further said that the vaccines would be sourced from at least six to seven places.

“The vaccine may not be of a particular brand. In all probability, it will be mixed,” Sarma said, without elaborating further.

The Health Minister also said that the COVID-19 curve has for the first time “started to flatten” in the state.

Sarma said the positivity rate came down below 4 per cent against 30,000 tests conducted on an average per day, especially during the period from October 6 to 12, 2020.

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