Meghalaya gears up for Covid vaccine rollout

SHILLONG

The Meghalaya Government is gearing up to roll out the vaccination drive for COVID-19 across the State on January 16.

Dr Aman Warr while speaking to newsmen said, “A total number of 16,000 health workers would be vaccinated in the first phase out of the total 27,087 who have registered.”

“The vaccine drive for the first phase will continue till all health workers in the State are vaccinated,” DHS (MI), Dr Aman Warr said.

According to Dr Warr, the Health department has decided to start with 16,000 health workers since they have received 35,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

“We must make sure that the 16,000 workers who got the first dose will need to get the second dose after 28 days,” DHS (MI) added.

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He further informed that top priority will be the ward boys, nurses, ANMs and doctors.

“If we can protect the health workers initially, then it prevents the spread of the virus to the general patients,” Dr Warr said.

Informing that there are 1426 government vaccinators who will be involved in the vaccination drive. Dr Warr also said that there are another 87 vaccinators from the private institutions who would be responsible to vaccinate the health workers in the private institutions or hospitals.

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DHS (MI) further informed that South West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills have not been included in the initial stage of the vaccination drive because of communication problems.

“We will need to submit the report immediately to Delhi on the progress of the vaccination drive during the initial stages. South West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills will be covered in the later stages,” he said.

(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)