Festivities in the air as Covid vaccination begins in Vidarbha

NAGPUR: Centres wore a festive look with balloons hanging from the ceilings and rangolis on the floor as the Covid-19 vaccination programme began in Vidarbha on Saturday. After 10 months of the pandemic, the vaccination to control the pandemic commenced at 56 centres in 11 districts around 10.45am 5,400 health care workers will be administered Covishield vaccine and 200 will get doses of Covaxin vaccine on Saturday.
There was some confusion at what time the drive would begin as PM Narendra Modi and state CM Uddhav Thackeray were to make inaugural speeches in New Delhi and Mumbai, respectively. Health officials got a nod for 10.45am even as many were watching Modi live at specially installed TV screens.
Guardian minister Nitin Raut, mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B and additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi launched vaccination drive in Nagpur district at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital.
The centre was well decorated for the historic moment. The nursing staff started to reach the centre at 8am and started to prepare for vaccination.
In IGGMC, dean Dr Ajay Keoliya was the first person to be jabbed. He was followed by surgery department head Dr Sunil Lanjewar and head of community medicine department Dr Ashok Jadhao. Junior resident-III Dr Priti Tiwar administered the doses.
In Daga hospital, the first recipient was Dr Sandhya Dange, the additional civil surgeon at the centre. Staff nurse Nita Murarkar, who has been a health worker for the last 15 years, was the vaccinator.
In AIIMS, Dr Manish Shrigiriwar, medical superintendent was the first to get vaccinated. Nursing officer Ramya was the vaccinator.
NMC zonal medical officer of Ashi Nagar Zone Dr Deepankar Bhivgade was the first to be administered the vaccine at NMC Pachpaoli Centre. Rajni Meshram and Rajashri Fule, both nurses for five years, administered the doses.
At the Government Medical College, Dr Reena Ruprai, a 41-year-old assistant professor, was the first to get the Bharat Biotech Covaxin. She was followed by Dr Bhalchandra Murhar who is the 59-year-old professor of biotechnology in the GMC. The third was Dr Mukesh Waghmare, 43. Ruprai said she had faith in the Bharat Biotech vaccine and would be going to work after the 30 minute observation ends.
Addressing the media after the inauguration, Raut said, “A sad and unfortunate year due to pandemic came to an end. Many from government and other sectors had to take all efforts to fight out the pandemic. That has come to an end today with beginning of vaccination all over India. Its a happy moment for all of us. I express my gratitudes towards central and state governments for providing vaccines to the district immediately. Special thanks to CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and MVA Government.”
Raut also said, “The vaccination will be given at 12 centers in the district of which five are in the city and seven in rural. 42,000 doses have been provided. Its a happy moment as vaccine Covisheild is manufactured by our country-based Serum Institute of India and is being administered. Sufficient quantity of vaccines and other necessary things have been provided at all centres in the district,” he said.
As per guidelines, policeman started to check whether the name of beneficiary entering the centre was in today’s list. Then, one of the four vaccinators checked temperature and oxygen saturation level and asked the beneficiaries to be seated in the waiting room.
The second vaccinator started verification of document and in Co-WIN application. The third vaccinator started to administer 0.5ml vaccine to each health care worker in vaccination room. Then, the beneficiaries were being asked to wait for 30 minutes at observation room. A fourth vaccinator is continuously monitoring the beneficiaries and talking to them.
NMC Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital also has the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) kit for primary treatment in case of any complications to any beneficiary. 0.5ml adrenalin will be administered in case of any complications. 108 cardiac ambulance is on standstill at the centre for referring to IGGMCH for admission and treatment in case of any complications to any beneficiary.
The NMC had delivered Covishield vaccines to Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital, AIIMS, IGGMCH and Daga Hospital and Covaxin vaccine to GMCH on Friday. Also, syringes were distributed in sufficient numbers.
Vaccination started at 12 centres in Nagpur district of which five are in city — Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital, AIIMS, IGGMCH, GMCH and Daga Maternity Hospital.
Vidarbha has registered 6,789 deaths and 2,63,838 positive cases in last 10 months. The fatalities and positive cases in Nagpur district are highest compared with remaining 10 in Vidarbha. Nagpur district has registered 4,058 deaths and 1,29,866 positive cases.