Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan, November 27
Administering the second dose of Covid vaccine to all by December 3 has become an arduous task for the state government as there is a considerable decline in self-reporting by eligible people.
All districts have been given the target to achieve 100 per cent vaccination, with the health staff in Solan district supposed to vaccinate 1 lakh people in three days.
Though Himachal had topped the country in administering the first dose to 54.22 lakh people in the 18-plus category in August, the target of repeating this feat for the second dose appears to be challenging.
About 55,23,000 people are supposed to receive the second jab, as per the estimates of the Health Department. However, barely 49.79 per cent population has been administered the second dose till now.
As many as 59,173 persons were vaccinated in the state on Saturday, with maximum of 17,162 in Kangra, 9,253 in Mandi, 5,982 in Shimla, 6,834 in Solan, 1,589 in Una, 4,135 in Sirmaur, 3,510 in Hamirpur, 4,061 in Chamba, 4,000 in Kullu, 2,532 in Bilaspur, 93 in Kinnaur and 22 in Lahaul-Spiti.
Though Solan district had topped the state in administering both doses of Covid-19 vaccine till November 24, only few are turning up to receive the second dose now. The first dose had been administered to 169 per cent of the eligible population while the second dose has been received by 123.1 per cent of the target group in Solan.
On the other hand, bigger districts like Shimla, Mandi and Kangra have administered the first dose to 115.8, 93.4 and 91.7 per cent of the targeted population, respectively, while the second dose has been received by 96.2, 79.4 and 76.1 per cent till November 24.
The tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti have fared better than other districts. Of the targeted population, 132.4 and 129.2 per cent have received the first jab, respectively, in the two districts while the second jab has been received by 108.7 per cent and 89.9 per cent people.
Dr Gagan Rajhans, District Immunisation Officer, said, "A large number of people from the neighbouring states had received the first dose in districts like Solan, which share border with these states. This had increased the number of those receiving the first dose by 5 to 10 per cent. The floating population from the slums, industrial workers and truckers falls in this category. Their absence has now caused a decline in the number of those receiving the second dose," he added.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service