Thiruvananthapuram: Covid vaccine will arrive in the state on Wednesday. The flight carrying the vaccine will arrive in Nedumbassery airport at 2 pm and Thiruvananthapuram airport at 6 pm.
In the first phase, the Centre has allotted 4,35,500 vaccine vials for Kerala. Each vaccine vial contains 10 doses. When one vial is opened, it should be used within 6 hours.
Out of the 4,35,500 vaccine vials, 1100 is for Mahe.
All preparations for vaccine storage and distribution have been done in Kerala. The vaccine will be stored at the regional vaccine centres in Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. From these centres, it will be distributed to all districts. The vaccine that reaches Nedumbassery airport will be taken to Kozhikode via road.
The vaccine shots will be given to Covid frontline workers including health workers in the first phase of vaccination. Kerala had demanded for priority consideration from Centre in vaccine distribution as the state witnesses high Covid cases. The state had asked for 5 lakh vaccine vials for the initial phase.
State Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said that that the government is ready for the distribution of the vaccine and that the list of health workers who will be injected with the first batch of vaccine is in place.
Shailaja also said that the recent surge in Covid cases is due to local body elections and Christmas and New Year celebrations and that the government is equipped for any eventuality. There were reports and warnings from health officials that there could be a daily surge of 100,000 Covid patients in the state and people were told to be on their guard.
