M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Nov. 26: Jharkhand is caught in a bind as it is lagging behind the national average of Covid-19 vaccination. The state is competing with the national average which looks like a daunting task.
Additional Chief Secretary (health), Arun Kr Singh in his letter dated November 22 that was sent to all the DCs of Jharkhand, reminds that the status of the vaccination is not good. He has asked the DCs to give a big push to the vaccination drives in their respective districts.
The letter reads that against the national average of 76% of the first dose vaccination, the number stands at 66.07% in Jharkhand.
And for the second dose, it is a bare 28.43% in Jharkhand while the national average of the second dose stands at 32%.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently had a video conferencing with the states’ chief ministers on November 3 with regard to the covid vaccination status and had emphasised upon acceleration in the vaccination percentage.
However, the drive is moving at snail’s pace in Jharkhand.
The state government, in particular, has increased the daily target for all 24 districts. The first enhancement of the target was set for the end of November 30 for all districts. However, the aim was raised again, this time for all districts to reach it by December 25.
Two enhancements of the targets in such a short span of time means the state is too desperate to at least reach a respectable percentage close to the national average.
The letter of the additional chief secretary also reads that the Indian government has set a target of 95% vaccination of the first dose by December 25 which was earlier at 90%.
The enhanced target of the vaccination per day for Palamu is 26,868. For Latehar and Garhwa it is 10,688 and 18,399 respectively.
Similarly, the target for Ranchi is 27,954, Hazaribag (19, 944), Bokaro (20,544), Simdega (9,152) and Chatra (15,452). The remaining districts have also enhanced their targets.
“This target seems difficult to be achieved,” said a doctor requesting for anonymity adding that the eligibles have become impervious to the risks of the Covid and need to be put on toes for the vaccination.
“We do not wish any new wave of the Covid to come but it is also a fact that advent of the Covid will push up demand for the vaccination in Jharkhand,” he added.
