Monday, 23 August 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the use of Sputnik-V vaccine in the state at the Graphic Era Institute of Medical Sciences here on Sunday. Despite the state government declaring a one-day state mourning on Sunday following the demise of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, this programme was not postponed considering its importance in public interest. A two-minute silence was observed in homage to Singh before the start of the vaccination programme.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the Covid vaccination programme is being undertaken at a brisk pace in the state. The state will achieve cent per cent vaccination by the month of December this year, he said. Stating that the state government is receiving the full support of the Central government for the vaccination programme, Dhami said that Uttarakhand had received 17 lakh vaccines so far this month. The chief minister further said that vaccination camps have been organised in the distant parts of the state to ensure extensive vaccination. The state government is also fully prepared for the possible third wave of Covid-19, said the chief minister. In addition to this, the state government is also making consistent efforts to further strengthen the health facilities in the state, he added.
The State’s Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that the pace of the vaccination programme is being stepped up consistently. Bageshwar has become the first district to achieve 100 per cent vaccination while Khirsu has become the first block to have achieved 100 per cent administering of the first dose.
The chief patron of Graphic Era Group, RC Ghanshala took the first shot of Sputnik-V vaccine. The Graphic Era Educational Group president Kamal Ghanshala told the chief minister that the 750-bed institute hospital at Dhulkot would start functioning at its full capacity in a few months. First of all, wards with ventilators and Bi-PAP beds have been prepared keeping in view the possibility of emergency situations.
Principal medical officer of the Graphic Era hospital, Dr Ajay Patel said that the Sputnik-V vaccine has been declared 95 per cent effective against Covid-19 and in the case of delta variant this vaccine is considered to be about 83 per cent effective. A total of 100 persons were administered the Suptnik-V vaccine at the launch programme on Sunday. After registration on the Cowin app, any person can get the Sputnik-V vaccine at Graphic Era Hospital for a fee fixed by the government.
Soldier Welfare minister Ganesh Joshi and the local MLA Sahdev Singh Pundir were also among those present on the occasion.
