KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Jan 17: Baharagora, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh and Patamda blocks in the East Singhbhum district attained 100 percent target of first dose as the vaccination drive completed one year on Sunday.
But in reality, a large number of inoculated persons in those four blocks were from the adjoining districts of Bengal and many local residents of Baharagora, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh and Patamda are yet to be administered the first dose.
According to sources in the district health department, the estimated target of first dose of Covid vaccination for Baharagora block was 1,11,893 but a total 1,12,302 people above 18 years age-group were inoculated.
Similarly, for Chakulia 91,471 beneficiaries were the target, but 92,720 were vaccinated, for Dhalbhumgarh 45,277 was the target, but 45,472 were inoculated, and finally for Patamda 60,589 people was the target whereas 62,502 people were vaccinated.
District Reproductive & Child Health Care (DRCHC) officer, Jujhar Majhi who looks after the Covid vaccination programme in East Singhbhum said that the four blocks succeeded to achieve the estimated target because these four blocks are very close to Bengal.
“After the vaccination drive began in the rural areas people residing in the bordering districts of Bengal came to these four blocks loaded in buses and pick-up vans for getting vaccinated. This was because as per the existing rule anyone, even from outside the state can be vaccinated on producing Aadhaar card or any other valid document,” said Majhi.
The DRCHC officer said there are several people in Baharagora, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh, all situated in Ghatsila sub-division, and Patamda who are not even aware about the ongoing Covid pandemic.
He stated that the lowest percentage of vaccination among the 11 blocks has been in the Ghurabandha block which is the most undeveloped block and also in the Ghatsila sub-division where only 73 percent people have been vaccinated.
Majhi said despite being an urban area Jamshedpur block could not achieve the cent per cent vaccination target. In Jamshedpur block 95 percent of people have been vaccinated with the first dose.
Covid vaccination drive had been launched in Jamshedpur simultaneously in other places across the country on January 16, 2021.
