SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 6: In the wake of the festive season, the district administration and the health department on Saturday set up a Covid vaccination centre at the Dhanbad railway station to vaccinate the passengers.
District nodal officer for vaccination, Dr. Vikash Rana said that two teams, comprising two nurses and two operators each, have been deployed at the railway station for this purpose.
“Our priority is to vaccinate the passengers who have not taken the vaccine’s first dose. But at the same time, the second dose for passengers will also be administered,” said Dr. Rana.
A senior medical officer of the district health department said that till date only screening (infection testing of passengers) was being done at the railway station but now Covid vaccination has also been started in the interest of travellers who get off the trains.
As per railway’s official record, around 24,000 to 26,000 foot falls of passengers of different trains are registered at Dhanbad railway station in 24 hours.
“Vaccination facility at Dhanbad railway station will help in achieving the mission target,” added Dr. Vikash Rana.
He further said that 68 to 70 vaccination sites run across the district and 17,000 to 18,000 people are covered in urban as well as rural pockets per day.
“Besides the 70 vaccination sites, the health department has also rolled out two mobile vans in the city to provide vaccination facilities to people who are helpless to reach centres due to various reasons,” he said.
The official said that during the Chhath festival, the health department has decided to focus on the minority community dominated pockets as Chhath devotees will hardly come for vaccines during this period.
Since infected people from other states are increasing cases in Dhanbad, the administration has intensified screening of people at different entering points.
District transport officer (DTO) Omprakash Yadav said that testing of passengers at inter -state bus stands has been tightened to check the influx of infected people in the district.
