New rules hit private vaccination camps- Plan to rev up vaccination process

SNS |  SILIGURI |  27 JUNE 21 : Some Covid-19 vaccination camps, which were to be organised on private initiative, have been affected in Siliguri following a directive issued by the state health department.

The seven-page 'SOP for operating Covid Vaccination Center /Camp (CVC/ Outreach Vaccination under Non-Government Initiative' was issued yesterday after the fake vaccination racket came to light in Kolkata.

The SOP says that approval of the chief medical officer of health (CM0H) is mandatory to organise all outreach Covid vaccination camps in districts. Private hospitals, organisations and corporate houses that organise such camps must obtain clearance from the local police stations too.

"They need to take prior permission from the CM0H office and also clearance from the police to hold the vaccination camps. We have already sent the new government SOP to all the stakeholders," Darjeeling district chief medical officer of health Dr Pralay Acharya said.

A vaccination camp was supposed to be organised by the Siliguri Deshbandhu Para Nabin Sangha, in association with Medica North Bengal Clinic, Siliguri, near Siliguri Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium today.

"We cancelled the pre-announced Covid vaccination programme today following the new SOP issued by the state health and family welfare department. Fresh applications will be made according to the procedure to seek a new date," said the working president of the club, Manotosh Talukdar.

Sources said more than 700 people were supposed to take the Covid shots in the camp.

"Some people started turning up at 5 am as the vaccination was supposed to begin at 9 am, but we informed them that the vaccination would not take place," Mr Talukdar said.

Plan to rev up vaccination process

The chairperson of the board of administrators of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), Gautam Deb, today said infrastructure was being developed to scale up Covid-19 vaccination.

"Mare planning to develop the infrastructure to vaccinate around 4000 people daily Now, the civic body vaccinates around 1500 people daily on an avenge. The North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) now vaccinates 1500 people, and the number is 500 at the Siliguri District Hospital. There are plans to increase the capacities as part of which the NBMCH will administer 2000 vaccines and 1000 people at the Siliguri hospital," Mr Deb said.

Mucormycosis death

A 61-year-old resident of Asighar, who had tested positive for mucormycosis, died at the NBMCH today, sources said. He had recovered from Covid-19, but was suffering from pneumonia, the sources said.

145 new Covid cases in Darjeeling district

The Siliguri Municipal Corporation, including areas under Jalaiguri district, recorded 43 new Covid cases today. Darjeeling district registered 145 cases, sources said.

Twenty-three cases were found in .Mirik, 18 in Sukhia Pokhari, 14 each in Matigara and Naxalbari, 13 each in Sukna and Takdah, eight in Bijanbari, four in Darjeeling Municipality, three in Kurseong Municipality and two cases each in Kharibari and Phansidewa. Meanwhile, 163 persons recovered from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours in Darjeeling district, the sources said.

Covid patients die

Around two persons, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died in the past 24 hours. An 80-year- old from Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri died at the NBMCH and a 66-year-old of Ashram Para in Siliguri died in a private nursing home.