M F AHMED
Daltonganj, Oct 23: A total of 34,321 beneficiaries skipped their second dose of the covid-19 vaccine in Latehar and are yet not fully vaccinated. This figure includes people who took the first dose of either Covishield or Covaxin.
An official of the Latehar health department, Ved Prakash said that out of this 34,321, the number of Covishield beneficiaries skipping their second dose is 24,785. The remaining 9,536 beneficiaries ducking their second dose are the ones who took Covaxin.
Sources said these people have jumped the due dates much to their own harm.
Latehar is to vaccinate a total of 5, 31,500 people but the way vaccines’ second dose has been tossed and the queue for taking the first dose is a matter of concern.
The state government has fixed a target of 9,400 vaccinations a day in the Latehar district.
Civil surgeon (CS) Latehar, Dr. Haren Chandra Mahto when contacted today, said, “We are unable to reach the daily target of vaccines set by the state government which is 9,400.”
“Just 25% of this target is being achieved on a daily basis,” he added when asked about an average figure of vaccination per day.
Sources said Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Arun Kr Singh should note that his senior health officials in the districts just do not like to have questions or queries regarding vaccination and testing.
He asks for a wide mass awareness among the people for vaccination through the newspapers but health officials take newspapers for a ride. The information given by the officials remains monosyllabic, added the sources.
Lagatar24.com’s correspondent has accessed a very recent letter of Arun Kr Singh addressed to all the DCs of the state asking for a special weekend vaccination beginning Friday till Sunday. He has asked for vaccination outreach in remote areas, hard to reach areas etc.
He has also called for adequate and effective tagging of self-help groups in mobilizing and motivating people for the vaccination.
According to sources, the strike of the NHM has affected the updating of the second dose vaccination.
