The Jharkhand government is looking to vaccinate 2.5 lakh people every day from now on, doubling the present number in an effort to speed up its immunisation drive against Covid-19 in apprehension of a third wave anytime soon.
Additional chief secretary of the state health department Arun Kumar Singh has written to all deputy commissioners, reviewing their present targets and asking them to ensure that the new numbers are achieved.
“Fresh targets have been fixed following a review. It was realised that there is a need to speed up the vaccination drive as Jharkhand is falling behind many other states. Only through acceleration of vaccination through different strategies will we be able to fight the virus,” said Singh, adding that it has been decided to allot vaccine doses to districts based on their consumption to prevent wastage.
Statistics available on the Union health ministry’s portal till June 25 suggest that Jharkhand has vaccinated 62,40,166 people so far. On an average it is vaccinating about 80,000 to 1 lakh people a day and on some days the number goes up to 1.30 lakh.
On June 21 and 22, the state vaccinated approximately 1,03,016 people with East Singhbhum accounting for 13,021, Ranchi 8,329 and Dhanbad 7,360. But some districts like Garhwa, Khunti, Jamtara achieved dismal figures of 2,768, 1,381 and 1,872 respectively.
To boost statewide coverage, the health department has provided fresh daily targets to every district. For instance, Ranchi has been given a target of 25,911 jabs, East Singhbhum 13,510, Dhanbad 18,528 and Bokaro 14,250.
A health department official added that compared to earlier times, vaccine hesitancy had lessened to large extent, but in certain rural areas, misconceptions and fears still exist.
“Awareness drives apart, the government has also rolled out several initiatives like mobile vax vans, on-spot registration by holding special camps , etc. But as states are unlocking and migration of people is happening once again, there is a fear of resurgence of the virus. Only by effective vaccination, will we be able to contain the intensity of infection,” the official said.
