Bhubaneswar: The state Health Department Sunday said that vaccination drive for people in the 18-44 age group will be expanded to 22 more municipalities and Notified Area Councils (NAC) with the availability of more number of Covid-19 vaccine doses.
The government’s decision came at a time when the state is expecting to receive 6,45,790 doses of Covishield in three trenches. With the availability of these doses, the vaccination drive would be expanded in the state. The department plans to give priority to students and athletes in the 18-44 years age group.
Earlier, the vaccination drive for this group was confined to five municipal corporations and six municipalities/NACs. BMC Commissioner Sanjay Singh said that more online slot bookings for vaccination of 18-44 age group will be taken up in the next four to six weeks.
Meanwhile, online slot booking for the first dose for the 18-44 age group started in several districts of Odisha Sunday.
Bijay Panigrahi, Director, Health and Family Welfare, said that vaccines received from the Centre were not used for vaccinating this age group. Instead, vaccines procured directly from the manufacturers were used to inoculate this group of people.
PNN