Bhubaneswar: The state government Friday said that the registration process for senior citizens for Covid-19 vaccination would be online as well as on spot at the vaccination centres.
This comes days before the registration drive for vaccination is likely to start. “Registration could be done online by self through Cowin application.
However, those who are unable to register themselves online can visit the registration centres directly and could register themselves on the spot,” Bijoy Panigrahi, Director of Health and Family Welfare said.
The official also talked about the criteria for consideration for elderly for the vaccination drive. Panigrahi said, “From March 1 we are going to see the process to vaccinating the senior citizens. Those who are going to complete 60 years by January 1, 2020 will be considered as senior citizens for the vaccination drive.”
He also said that those who are above 45 years and having co-morbidities would be allowed to get inoculated. Those below 45 years will need to furnish a medical certificate before the vaccination centres.
The Health department also said that vaccination would be free at government setups and with costs at private hospitals. He said that the state insurance scheme of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) empanelled private hospitals were allowed by the Centre as Covid vaccination centres.
Panigrahi told the media, “Under the BSKY scheme, we have several empanelled hospitals. Those will be used for the vaccination. Vaccine will be free at government hospitals while at private hospitals it will be charged. The price has not been fixed as yet.”
He also added, “Decisions will be taken whether empanelled private hospitals will give the vaccine for free or on payment basis. We have ample vaccines to start the drive March 1 and we are also going to get more vaccines soon. We are fully prepared to vaccinate the elderly too.”
Nevertheless, the latest data claimed that the state has been able to achieve 88 per cent success in vaccinating the health care workers in the first phase of the vaccination drive while in the second round 86 per cent of the health care workers have been vaccinated.
PNN