Booster dose of COVID-19 preventive vaccine received warm response as throughout district on first day around 2,076 beneficiaries turned up at vaccine centers in city. From Monday onwards, as per directives of Government, booster dose for senior citizens of 60 years and above and for front-line workers was started in city. However, given the prevailing frosty weather, many of the elderly people preferred to stay indoors. It explains the reason for lesser number of people being jabbed on first day of drive. At centers being run by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and in various hospitals, not much rush was seen throughout the day. Central Government has allowed administering of Covishield as well as Covaxin doses to citizens as per their previous jabs. Dr Sanjay Chilkar, Medical Officer, NMC, said that as per preliminary information 1700-2000 persons have taken the preventive dose on first day. At Panchpaoli Women's Hospital, Guardian Minister Dr Nitin Raut took his booster dose. Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari was present on the occasion.

 

At this time, Guardian Minister appealed to the citizens to take corona vaccine by taking booster dose and not to delay their schedule. Dr Deepankar Bhivgade took booster dose from health category at the center. The booster doses are now needed to further enhance the protection for citizens from the COVID-19 epidemic whose newer variants are cropping-up. Eligible citizens are required to take booster dose as directed by the health department of the Central Government, he further said. Mayor said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a booster dose for citizens above 60 years of age and health workers as well as front-line workers. This dose is being given to the citizens free of cost. He appealed to the people to take full advantage of this. Collector Vimala R, Additional Municipal Commissioners Deepak Kumar Meena and Ram Joshi, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Baviskar, Assistant Medical Health Officers Dr Vijay Joshi and Dr. Govardhan Navkhare and others were present. NMC has made arrangement for administering Covishield vaccine in 119 permanent centers and Covaxin in 29 permanent centers. Some of senior citizens and health workers as well as front-line workers had lined up at the Panchpaoli center since morning to get booster doses.

 

The eligibility for the third dose is that beneficiary must have completed 9 months or 39 weeks from the date of taking the second dose. 119 permanent centers of Covishield vaccine have been started for such eligible citizens above 60 years of age. Also, first and second doses of Covishield vaccine will be given to all citizens above the age of 18 in this center. 28 permanent vaccination centers for Covaxin vaccine have been started. Citizens over the age of 60 who have been vaccinated with the Covaxin vaccine will be given a booster dose. The first and second doses will also be given to citizens above 15 years of age at these vaccination centers.

 

NMC’s appeal to students to get vaccinated Currently, schools are closed till February 15 due to the Covid-19 regulations. Therefore all students between the ages of 15 and 17-years, born in the year 2007 or earlier should go to 28 vaccine vaccination centers and get themselves vaccinated, said an appeal Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Similarly, the school management should take initiative to get their students vaccinated in their schools and should contact the NMC's Health Department and complete the vaccination of 100 per cent eligible students as soon as possible.