FIGHTBACK: Covid-19 vaccines free for people between 18 and 45 years in Odisha

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<strong>Joining several others States, like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Tamil Nadu, Odisha too has decided to vaccinate its population against the coronavirus disease free of cost.</strong></p>
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Making this announcement yesterday the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided on free vaccination for nearly 19.3 million residents, aged between18 and 45 years, in the third phase of the Covid-19 inoculation drive. The estimated cost of this drive will be Rs.2,000 crore.</p>
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The announcement has come at a time when the State official are expecting the infection number to rise. Today with 6,599 new cases reported, the number of active cases in the State is moving towards 50,000-mark,</p>
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The State has placed orders for 37.7 million Covishield doses from Serum Institute and 1.034 million doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech. These doses will be procured by the Odisha State Medical Corporation at price fixed by the two manufacturers.</p>
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Health department officials said the State has placed orders for 37.7mn Covishield doses from Serum Institute and 1.034mn doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech. Odisha State Medical Corporation will procure the vaccines from the two manufacturers at the prices fixed by them. Covaxin was being administered only to people in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area while Covishield was being used in the rest of Odisha.</p>
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The CM stressed on the need for the people to be responsible stating that the Government will not be able to fight against the pandemic all on its own. "I request you with folded hands to religiously follow all Covid appropriate protocols. Wear masks, maintain social distancing at all costs. Until very necessary, do not go out of the house. I request everyone to realise (that) this (is) a grave situation that we are currently going through. For me each and every life is precious.”</p>
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The massive rise in Covid cases has led to increase in the the daily oxygen consumption in the State. The peak oxygen demand in the Covid-ICUs was 23 metric tonne (MT) per day last year, but it has now gone past 37 MT per day.</p>
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<strong>Preparation for the worst</strong></p>
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Bracing for the increase in Covid-19 cases in the coming days, the Odisha government already has over 12,000 beds in place in 70 dedicated Covid hospitals. Now it is planning to add another 8,000 in such facilities apart from over 50,000 beds in Covid care centres.</p>
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While at present, just about 25% general beds are occupied whereas 30% ICUs and 16% ventilators are in use since 3,000-odd patients have been admitted, the remaining 42,000 confirmed cases are in home isolation.</p>
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It is anticipated that cases in the State will peak by the end of this month and the first week of May.</p>