Mission Director, National Health Mission Nagaland, Dr Kevichusa Medikhru along with State Immunisation Officer, Dr Ritu Thurr and IDSP Nodal Officer, Dr Nyan Kikon during the press conference on December 17.
Health Dept urges precautions during festive season
Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 17
The Nagaland Health Department today assured that the State is well prepared for the COVID-19 vaccination drive, which likely to take place this month.
However, the final communication for starting the first phase is yet to be received from Government of India till now.
Addressing a press conference held in Kohima, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Nagaland, Dr Kevichusa Medikhru highlighted the status of COVID-19 vaccine preparedness of the state. The press conference was held at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare’s conference hall in Kohima.
He informed that the State has conducted the necessary training for the same and the major partners like WHO, UNICEF, UNDP etc will be assisting the State during the vaccination drive.
The first phase, which is set to cover 19, 654 health care workers in Nagaland, has already been listed, informed Dr Ritu Thurr, State Immunization Officer, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland.
Dr Thurr informed that the State has already uploaded the data in the portal website of COVID vaccine beneficiary list.
“We are still waiting for guideline as to how to go about the 2nd second phase for frontline workers,” informed Dr Medikhru. He informed that there are a large number of frontline workers for the second phase.
The third phase will include vaccination of people who are 50 years and above. Meanwhile, the last phase will be for those below age 50 with co-morbidities.
Dr Medikhru informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the recent video conference with the States had said that the Centre is going to administer 30 crore COVID vaccine doses across the country.
Dr Nyanthung Kikon, State Nodal Officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme meanwhile stated that just because vaccination is on the horizon is no reason to behave as if the virus has been defeated.
“We have to be more vigilant not to get COVID 19, even if vaccine is there. We have to be very careful. We have to adopt more seriously the COVID 19 appropriate behavior,” he said.
Dr Medikhru echoed the same advice and stated that precautions have to be taken this festive season. He informed that the department has advised Churches, civil societies, urban local bodies, administrations, students’ organizations and tribal hohos to work towards encouraging social distancing norms, wearing of masks etc.
He also stated that the state is well prepared for COVID -19 immunization process and the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), further adding that the vaccination will be free of cost.
While vaccination will not be compulsory for the beneficiaries, the Mission Director said that the government will insist that every beneficiary is vaccinated.
