Along with the rest of the state, the drive to administer precautionary doses of COVID-19 to select beneficiaries began in Sivasagar on January 10, 2021.

Accordingly, the drive to administer the precautionary dose of COVID-19 began with medical practitioners, health workers, frontline workers and those senior citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidity.

Additional deputy commissioner in charge of vaccination programme Chandana Baruah formally launched the drive at the Khemka Maternity Hospital on January 10.

The formal launch of the third dose of Covid-19 vaccination drive was also attended by joint director of Health Services Dr Shyamanta Madhab Sarma and District Vaccination Officer Dr Arundhati Bora Hazarika apart from several officials and employees of the Health Department.

Notably, a total of 7632 numbers of beneficiaries including medical practitioners, health workers, frontline workers and those senior citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidity have been identified as eligible for the third precautionary Covid-19 dose.

On the first day of its launch, the third precautionary Covid-19 dose was administered at 12 centres across the district. Among these, both Covaxin and Covishield were administered at four centres.

Notably, those who have received the particular vaccine (Covaxin or Covishield) were administered the same one as per the directive of the Health Department and as such, no one can interchange the vaccine.

Moreover, the third precautionary Covid-19 dose has been administered to only those beneficiaries who have completed 39 weeks or nine months from the date of taking the second dose of the vaccine.

As such the third precautionary Covid-19 dose covered the beneficiaries who have taken the second dose before April 10, 2021.

Accordingly, those who have taken the second dose of the vaccine on April 21 last year will be eligible for the third precautionary COVID-19 dose on January 11, 2021, and the count will be followed accordingly.

ALSO READ | Reasons Why You Should Visit Sivasagar At Least Once