NAGPUR: The latest figures of vaccination coverage show a fast improvement as compared to earlier two weeks. With Covid cases increasing, the fear of getting infected is pushing people to get jabbed with their second and third (as per eligibility) dose. Even those who had skipped the first dose for some reason till now are getting convinced for vaccination. The worry is still about paediatric age group’s vaccine coverage.
Latest figures show that more than 10,000 ‘latecomers’ have received their first dose of vaccine between June 4 and 17. Near 45,000 have rushed for the second dose while above 32,000 in Nagpur division got the third dose (precautionary) in the last two weeks. This number used to be less than 5,000 per week till the last two weeks of May when cases were significantly down.
This increase in vaccination coverage can be attributed to the ‘Ghar Ghar Dastak 2.0’ campaign of the respective district administrations in all six districts of Nagpur division, apart from Covid fear among people. However, the coverage of school children is still a worry.
In Nagpur division, only 16% children of 12-14 age group and less than 50% adolescents of 15-17 age group have got their second dose till date. Schools are reopening by the end of this month and the administration has less than two weeks to cover children with the vaccine. A divisional head level meeting was held on Friday to discuss this issue.
“Vaccination of school kids will pick up once the schools will reopen. We are already in touch with the schools and the full vaccination of eligible students will be achieved with their cooperation only,” said Dr Madhavi Khode-Chawre, divisional commissioner of Nagpur. In Vidarbha, schools are reopening from June 29.
Bhandara district is leading in school kids’ vaccination with 30% in 12-14 age group covered with both the doses, and 70% of 15-17 age group being fully vaccinated. “Bhandara is leading in vaccination right from the beginning. We have distributed highest 31,799 precautionary doses to senior citizens in the division after Nagpur. Our full vaccination coverage for the adults (45+) has already surpassed 100%,” said district collector Sandip Kadam.
