News Analysis India

Tag: full vaccination

  • One-fourth of eligible population in India is now fully vaccinated, says Centre

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday expressed concern over the slow pace of Covid vaccination in 7 states where less than 60% of the population is covered with at least one dose. These states include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal among others

    In a press briefing on Covid status in the country, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan highlighted that 69% of the adult population in India is now at least partially vaccinated while 25 % of the 18 plus age group is fully immunised.

    He also underlined that the average daily vaccination in September has been more than 79 lakh doses—which is over four times the average daily vaccinations carried out in May when the inoculations opened for all adults.

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    As per the data shared, there are 6 Union Territories and states where 100% of the adult population has received at least one shot of the vaccine while in 6 others, more than 80 % population is partially vaccinated now.

    The number of states with 60-80% population covered with one dose is 15 while there are 6 states and UTs where less than 60 % of the population is partially vaccinated.

    Also, while nearly 85% of the healthcare workers are now fully immunised, 82% of the frontline workers have also received both jabs against coronavirus.

    Bhushan, while pointing that 18 districts in India are still reporting a weekly positivity between 5 to 10%, reiterated that festivals have to be celebrated low-key this year too, in order to curb the spread of the infectious disease.  

    “The rate of (Covid test) positivity is coming down. This is the 13th week continuously when the weekly positivity rate stands below 3% but our target should be to bring down this rate further. The state governments must target this,” he added.

  • Village with 30% literacy first in Chhattisgarh to have 100% vaccination

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR:  A village in Chhattisgarh’s remote hinterland has come up with an inspiring tale. Located in the backward and Maoist-dominated Dantewada district, Renganar has achieved 100% vaccination. In capital Raipur and Bilaspur, this figure is 57% and 61%, respectively. 

    The task was not easy. Other than distance from modern amenities, there were logistical obstacles. Making the tribal communities, who form 95% of the village’s population, believe that vaccines cause no harm was another challenge. Despite that, around 310 persons of Renganar in the above-18 age group who are eligible have been administered the first dose. 

    The village has a literacy rate of hardly 30%. Inhabitants are largely digitally illiterate, another challenge the authorities had to deal with while using the official ‘CG-Teeka’ app for registrations. “Local health workers and our specially constituted ‘Corona Jagrukta Dal’ (awareness teams) of teachers, mitanins (community health workers) and Angadwadi staff at the panchayat level played a vital role. Credit goes also to the understanding of the tribal people.

    Most of them don’t have mobile phones, but in the CG-Teeka app, mobile phone numbers were not compulsory for registration,” said Deepak Soni, Dantewada Collector. Health worker who worked were also impressed to see that these tribal people did not have misconceptions about the vaccine. In many parts of rural India, myths about the process have proved a major hindrance.

    “Initially, only a handful of people were vaccinated due to misconceptions and poor awareness. Most of them were hesitant. The ‘Corona Jagrukta Dal’ and others counselled the villagers and dispelled their fears. It’s a happy occasion for us to see that every eligible adult in our area is vaccinated. They are better guarded against the virus,” said Sanmati Telami, the woman sarpanch of Renganar.