PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, May 12: Jharkhand’s response to taking the precautionary dose of the Covid-19 vaccine among those above 18 years has been lukewarm ever since the nationwide drive was launched on April 10.
State health secretary Arun Kumar Singh went to New Delhi on May 4 to request the union health ministry for free booster doses of the Covid vaccine for the citizens in the age group of 18 to 59 like the senior citizens. But he got no positive response from the union ministry.
Singh said that there is no sign of a positive response to making booster doses of the Covid vaccine free for the citizens in the age group of 18 to 59.
On the question of whether the government will interfere to increase the booster dose vaccination centre in the capital where only one centre is functional, he said, “We cannot force the private hospitals to purchase the vaccines.”
Several states including Delhi, Bihar and Haryana have announced to introduce free booster doses. Its effect has also been shown. So far in Delhi, 2,42,075 people aged 18-59 have taken booster doses, while in Bihar this figure is 1,50,888, whereas in Jharkhand only 11,165 people of this age bracket have taken booster doses.
Unlike other Covid vaccination doses, for booster doses, people have to pay money. As fees have to be paid, people are not coming forward for taking vaccines.
Health department officials said, “If the Jharkhand government spends Rs 430 crore, then 1.78 crore people who are eligible for the booster doses, will get vaccinated. Bihar government has approved Rs 1314 crore for a booster dose for people of 18-59 years. Similarly, Jharkhand should also spend Rs 430 crore to help in making the state free from Corona.”
There are as many as 1.78 crore people in the age group of 18 to 59 in the state. Out of the total number, so far only 11,165 have got the booster doses.
Out of 11165, 2634 have got booster doses in Ranchi.
An insider said not only people in the age group of 18 to 59, but people above 60 are also lagging in taking booster doses.
“So far against the total of 32,50,000 senior citizens, only 1,36,468 have taken booster doses. The figure is just 4 percent of the total population of senior citizens,” the insider said.
