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Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 3 (EMN): Two days after the state began vaccination drive for senior citizens and those older than 45 with co-morbidities, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio received the first dose of Covishield along with his wife Kaisa Rio at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) on Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton; Advisor for School Education, KT Sukhalu; and Advisor for Treasuries and Accounts and National Highways, Dr. Longriniken were also administered with the Covid-19 vaccine on the same day.
Rio encouraged the people to take the vaccine for Covid-19 at the nearest facility available. ‘Now that it has come to the senior citizens, it is an opportunity for all of us to take vaccine’, he said, adding that he was “feeling okay” after taking the jab.
He urged the people “not to miss the second dose” (after 28 days) once the first dose is taken in order to stay immune to the virus”. With the vaccine being made available, he expressed hope that the country will be “healthier and richer”.
While wishing the best to those who have taken the dose, he encouraged the rest to come forward and take the vaccine, be it in government hospitals or private facilities.
As on March 2, a total of 37,069 (inclusive of health care workers and frontline workers) have received the Covid-19 vaccine in the state.
The chief minister admitted that the number of beneficiaries of Covid-19 vaccine should have been “higher than that” (the total). The reason for less turn out could be because of “less” positivity rate of Covid-19 cases in the state, he said, adding that ‘people might be taking it casually but we should not take anything for granted’.