Thiruvananthapuram: The distribution of COVID-19 vaccine to various centres in the state has started, Health Minister K. K. Shailaja said.The first consignment of Covishield vaccine from Pune-based Serum Institute of India arrived at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram international airports on Wednesday.Special refrigerated vans were arranged to transport the vaccine safely to the respective centres. Transfer of vaccine boxes from the plane to vans was completed in 10 minutes.National Health Mission sources said of the 4,33,500 doses of the vaccine, 1,100 would be sent to Mahe, which is an enclave of Puducherry and lies between Kozhikode and Kannur districts.The vaccine was stored in the Regional vaccine centres at Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode from where it was distributed to 133 centres across the state.While Thiruvananthapuram will receive 1,34,000 doses of the vaccine, Ernakulam and Kozhikode will receive 1,80,000 and 1,19,500 doses respectively, Shailaja said.The district wise statistics of doses of vaccine reaching each district is; Thiruvananthapuram – 64,020, Kollam – 25,960, Pathanamthitta – 21,030, Alappuzha – 22,460, Kottayam – 29,170, Idukki – 9,240, Ernakulam – 73,000, Thrissur – 37,640, Palakkad – 30,870, Malappuram – 28,890, Kozhikode – 40,970, Wayanad – 9,590, Kannur – 32,650, Kasaragod – 6,860.So far, 3,68,866 people have registered themselves for the vaccination. Among them, 1,73,253 are from the government sector while 1,95,613 are from the private sector. The vaccination drive will commence from January 16.

  VACCINE