The Covid-19 vaccination drive for those between the ages of 18 and 44 began across Meghalaya today.
In Shillong, the vaccination drive was held in five places – Shillong Civil Hospital Shillong, MIMHANS, Rynjah State Dispensary, Nazareth Hospital and Bethany Hospital.
Many of those who wanted to get vaccinated did not know how to register since it had to be done online, but for others who are tech savvy, the process was easier but far from smooth.
At Civil Hospital many had to go back since they did not know that they had to pre-register online to be vaccinated.
A young beneficiary who got her first dose of the Covishield vaccine at Civil Hospital said that when she registered herself the website was fully flooded but she managed to get a slot for herself on the first day.
The vaccine, although painful, was worth it and she urged others to come and get the shot since it is the only way one can be protected from the virus.
In the government run centres the vaccine was provided free of cost, but in the private hospital like Nazareth hospital it costs Rs 500.
Meghalaya received 42,000 vaccines a few days back for the 18-44 age group.
Meanwhile, there were reports that in Civil Hospital, members of the 45-plus age group who had gone to get their second dose were turned away by the hospital.
Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Ram Kumar, said that the vaccination for the 45-plus above will go on all over the state.
“Some of the hospitals may not want to overcrowd. It’s not that the 18-44 age group and 45 above will go simultaneously in every place. It will depend on the location and facilities these hospitals have,” Kumar said. He also informed that the vaccination drive for the 45 years above today was held in 70 locations across the state.
He also informed that the state government will enforce the new notification of the centre that the gap between the first and the second dose will be around 12 to 16 weeks.
Meanwhile, in South West Khasi Hills 99 people in this age group got their first jabs out of the 100 available slots in Mawkyrwat Community Health Centre.
In all, 463 people received the vaccine today in Mawkyrwat block.
