The entire population of South 24-Parganas’s Ghoramara — a shrinking island in the Bay of Bengal — was administered with at least the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine with 840 more eligible recipients getting their jab on Thursday.

Sources said if a handful of Ghoramara residents still remained outside the vaccination drive, district officials would introduce a helpline from September 12 through which they would be able to contact health authorities for the jab.

“The initiative was undertaken as part of a mission to vaccinate the eligible population of Sagar block, particularly Sagar Island, before the commencement of the Gangasagar Mela slated to be held in December,” said an official.

Located 92km south of Calcutta, Ghoramara island is spread across 6sqkm and is part of the Sagar block that consists of four gram panchayats and a population of 4,472.

“Our primary target was to administer two jabs to the eligible population of the island keeping in view of the Gangasagar Mela. The priority is to avoid the spread of Covid amidst the arrival of a huge number of pilgrims. Although Ghoramara is relatively isolated, we included it in our mission to avoid any possible spread of the disease district-wide,” said Sagar block development officer Sudipto Mondal.

The sources said the district administration had identified 2,942 eligible recipients in the 18-plus age group in Ghoramara. During the first phase of vaccination, 2,102 persons had been vaccinated. On Thursday, the district administration arranged a special camp and also a door-step vaccination programme for the remaining 840 residents.

A special boat carrying vaccines and health workers had been sent to the island by the administration. They returned to Kochuberia ghat, from where it had left early on Thursday, late in the evening after completing the job.

“Our mission in Ghoramara has been accomplished. All eligible residents will now get their second dose after the prescribed gap, but before the commencement of the Gangasagar fair. A special mission undergoing for the remaining parts of the block is expected to be accomplished on Friday,” the BDO added.

Our additional objective was to vaccinate potential “super spreaders” like autorickshaw and cab drivers, who work among the public and may come in direct contact with pilgrims during the Gangasagar fair, said Sagar BMOH, Anshuman Roy.

A senior official in the district administration explained that the special mission was planned with more vigour so that the residents of Ghoramara island never felt “isolated” owing to their geographical location.

“They have been living in distress owing to the deadly erosion that is engulfing the island and creating a serious survival problem,” an official added.