Dr Medikru said that the first wave of COVID-19 vaccination will cover 30 crore Indians, including Nagaland. He stated that the vaccination will be in phase wise and the first phase will be for the health workers, the second phase will be for frontline workers followed by above 50 and the last phase will be below age 50 with comorbidities.

The mission health director said this while addressing a press conference to highlight the status of COVID-19 vaccine preparedness of the state at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare conference hall on Thursday.

The official informed that the data collection for the health workers in health facilities in the state has completed and that 19,654 beneficiaries have been listed in the portal. He remarked that the vaccine will not be provided in sub-centres but will be available in district hospitals, CHCs and PHCs. He also stated that the state is well prepared for COVID -19 immunization process and the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI). The vaccination will be free of cost, he added.

Dr Medikru then said that though the vaccination will not be compulsory for the beneficiaries but the government will insist that every beneficiary will 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.  

The mission health director also advised people to take extra precautionary measures with the onset of the festive session and cautioned 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 appealed to all the people of Nagaland to strictly follow all the guidelines and SOPs during the festive season.