On the first day of world’s largest vaccination programme, a 51-year-old woman sanitation worker at a government hospital was the first person to get the coronavirus vaccine shot in Chhattisgarh after the launch of the nationwide inoculation drive on Saturday.
Health officials here said the vaccination began at 97 centres across the state, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the vaccination drive in Delhi.
“Tulsa Tandi, a Swacchtakarmi (sanitation worker) at Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur since 2008, was administered the vaccination under supervision of experts,” Priyanka Shukla, the state Director for the National Health Mission, told this newspaper. Tandi was administered the Covishield vaccine at the local Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, which is among five vaccination centres in Raipur district, she said adding that drive is underway in all 28 districts in the state.
The health care workers in Raipur district are also being vaccinated against Covid-19 at the District Hospital Pandri and Mission Hospital, Tilda. In the district hospital, Pandri, ward boy Hemant Dubey was the first and the sanitation worker Chitru Thapar was the second to be given the vaccine.
Dubey told media persons that this vaccine is necessary to prevent the spread of corona virus. “This had brought some sense of freedom and fearlessness in me. I feel vaccination will now get rid of this disease and life will be safe and easy. Even after vaccination, we should follow the rules,” Dubey said.
Similarly, sanitation worker Chitru Thapar said, “There was a fear in me while cleaning the medical equipment used by the patients. But, now the vaccine will give me and my family necessary protection. Two doses of vaccine will get rid of this pandemic.”
Lady Health Supervisor of District Hospital, Pandri, Savitri Choubey said that she is going to retire in the coming month. She has also been infected with the Corona virus. “During home isolation, I understood the pain of being alone due to illness. The corona vaccine can now prevent the disease,” she said while sharing her experience.
Similarly, Dr Lalita Sahu of the District Research Intervention Center said that the corona vaccine is safe. People should not be afraid of this. There was always a fear of getting infected with corona. Health workers were also vaccinated at Mission Hospital, Tilda on Saturday to prevent corona. Dr Ashish Kumar Singh of the Mission Hospital said after being vaccinated it would save people from the disease. After vaccination, wearing a mask, washing your hands with soap continuously and following the rule of two yards will have to be followed regularly.
Similarly, Dr Uma Paikra said that the time to live amidst fear is over. Life will be safe by getting vaccinated. People no longer need to fear neither disease nor the vaccine. This vaccine is first being applied to health workers treating corona patients. The vaccine will then be administered to those who come forward voluntarily to get vaccinated against corona. According to the medical protocol, safe vaccination is being done and people are being made aware about vaccination.
Around 2.67 lakh healthcare workers and other frontline staff have been registered to receive vaccine shots during the first phase of the drive in the state, said Shukla, who is also state nodal officer for coronavirus vaccination drive.
\CM Bhupesh Baghel wishes good health to people
“Sabbo Jhan Sukhi Hovey, Sabbo Jhan Rog Mukt Rahey, Sabbo Jhan Mangal ke Sakshi Banaye Au Kono La Dukh ke Bhagi Jhan Banna Paraye, Tikakaran Ke Suruwat Jhan Mangal Kamana Sangh,” tweeted Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel wishing the people of the state on the first day of world’s largest vaccination programme on Saturday. The Chief Minister prayed for the good health and happiness of people.
\Weapon to fight Covid-19 arrived: Singhdeo
Health Minister T S Singhdeo inspected progress of vaccination programme at Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College in Raipur and interacted with the health workers and doctors who were administered corona vaccine. Singhdeo said that weapon to battle Covid-19 has arrived. He also appealed to follow the protocols. There should not be hesitation to get Covid vaccine administered, Singhdeo said. If any side effect of the vaccine is visible then it will be sorted out immediately with the advise of the doctors, he said.
