Preparations on at Jamshedpur hosp for vaccine launch

JAMSHEDPUR: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is likely to talk with a group of 10 persons after they are administered the much-awaited coronavirus vaccine here in Jamshedpur on January 16, officials said on Tuesday. A two-way communication centre has been set up at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) college campus for the purpose.

“The state health department has directed to set up a two-way communication centre for PM’s video conferencing with front line workers after they are vaccinated. It has been decided to set up such a centre at MGM college after inspection by district deputy commissioner (DC) Suraj Kumar late Monday evening,” Dr RN Jha, Jamshedpur civil surgeon, said on Tuesday.

As per available information, the Covid-19 vaccine from made by Serum Institute, Pune, is expected to reach Ranchi by January 14 via New Delhi.

Subsequently, it will be sent to Jamshedpur regional vaccination centre by cooling vehicles.

The PM has set a programme of nationwide video conferencing during the launch of Covid-19 vaccine on January 16, during which he is also scheduled to interact with some front line workers.

Ranchi and Jamshedpur are the two cities selected for the PM’s video conferencing, and arrangements are being made to have 10 front line workers at MGMMCH and the Ranchi centre at Namkum.

Vaccination would be started at eight centres in Jamshedpur (East Singhbhum) district and LED screens are also being set up for live webcasting of the video conferencing at seven other centres.

“Vaccination will start at eight centres in the district from Saturday and the process at all centres will be monitored online from a control room. The regional vaccination centre cum storage has been set up at the old civil surgeon’s office in Sakchi, from where vaccine will be supplied to the centres in all the three districts of Kolhan – East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan – as per requirement,” DC Suraj Kumar said.

The vaccination centres for January 16 have been set up at MGM College, MGM Hospital, Tata Main Hospital (TMH), Birsanagar Urban Health Centre, Jamshedpur Sadar Hospital, besides community health centres of Potka, Baheragora, Patmad and Ghatsila.

Jamshedpur additional chief medical officer (ACMO) Dr Sahir Pal said only health workers would be vaccinated in the first phase, for which registration was a must.

“The last date of registration for front line workers is January 25. The district has about 15,000 health workers, of which over 6,000 had registered till Monday night,” added Dr Pal.