Mission Director Health & Family Welfare Dr. Kevichusa Medikru called on a press conference to highlight the status of COVID-19 vaccine preparedness of the state at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare conference hall today.

Addressing the media Medikru advised people to take extra precautionary measures with the onset of the festive session and caution people on the complacent attitude towards COVID 19 virus. He said the many people tend to see coronavirus as just another flu but warned that it has resulted in the death of people and the severe after effect of COVID -19. He further appealed to all the people of Nagaland to strictly follow all the guidelines and SOPs during the festive season.

Also highlighting the COVID -19 vaccination drive in the state he said the state is well prepared and waiting for the rolled out of the vaccine from the center. He said that the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination will cover 30 crore Indians including Nagaland. He stated that the vaccination will be in phase wise and the 1st phase will be for the health workers, 2nd phase will be for frontline workers followed by above 50 and the last phase will be below age 50 with comorbidities.

He informed that the data collection for the health workers in a health facility in the state is complete and that 19,654 beneficiaries have been listed in the portal. He remarked that the vaccine will not be provided in sub centers but will be available in District hospitals, CHC and PHC. He also stated that the state is well prepared for COVID -19 immunization process and the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) and further added that the vaccination will be free of cost. He said that though the vaccination will not be compulsory for the beneficiaries government will insist that every beneficiary should be vaccinated. The other exercises to follow are the data collection for frontline workers and above 50 plus beneficiaries list which he said is a huge task ahead for the department.