Nagpur: First dose of Covid-19 vaccination of only 63% of registered healthcare workers has been completed in 11 districts of Vidarbha in 35 days since the drive started. Vaccines were given on 24 of 35 days in all districts.
Vaccination was conducted only in five— Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Amravati, Washim and Yavatmal— of 11 districts of the region on Friday. Remaining six districts— Nagpur, Wardha, Gondia, Bhandara, Akola and Buldhana — did not go for inoculation citing Shivaji Jayanti holiday.
The officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) said state government had suggested not to run vaccination programme on Friday it being a government holiday.
Vaccination was not held on some Tuesdays and Saturdays owing regular immunization programme for children. Inoculation is also not done on Sundays it being weekend.
Only 2,025 persons were vaccinated on Friday of whom 281 were healthcare workers (HCW) taking first dose, 573 took second dose and 1,171 frontline workers (FLW) took first dose.
Around 1.80 lakh HCWs were registered in the region for vaccination. The state government’s deadline for completion of first dose of HCW was February 13. As on Friday, 1,13,278 (63%) had taken first dose.
The achievement is less in Nagpur district compared with average of the region. Of total 45,413 registered HCWs, 25,884 (57%) have taken first dose. Second dose of 16,740 HCW was due by Friday. Only 6,872 (41%) turned up for it.
The vaccination of FLWs is going on simultaneously along with first and second doses of HCW. Inoculation of FLWs started on February 5. In all, 50,503 FLWs from departments falling under ministry of housing and urban affairs, revenue and home affairs had availed the benefit as on Friday.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde told TOI, “There is a need to speed up vaccination in the region in view of rise in coronavirus cases. Second dose of HCWs and FLWs is remaining. Vaccination of people above 50 years and below 50 years with comorbidities is required urgently considering spike in cases. It will be difficult to run vaccination of all simultaneously. Another option is that the government should made available vaccine in the market so that anyone may avail it,” he said.
Dr Shinde added vaccination will help in controlling the spread and reduce deaths from Covid-19.
The government is yet to resume registration of HCWs whose names got missed earlier. Large number of HCWs have submitted details. Over 2,500 HCWs are waiting in Nagpur district alone.
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