11% senior citizens in state took 3rd dose of Covid vaccine

Ranchi: The coverage of Covid-19 vaccination programme among the eligible residents of Jharkhand has dipped in recent months, the data of the state department of health, medical education and family welfare reveals.

A little over 3.58 lakh, a mere 11 per cent, out of the state’s 32.5 lakh senior citizens have taken precautionary doses till November 7 since the programme was rolled out in January this year. Also, only 12.34 lakh people aged between 18 years and 59 years have taken their precautionary doses. Around 2.1 crore adults, including 32.5 lakh senior citizens, are eligible for the precautionary doses, the data states.

Low second-dose coverage among children aged between 12 years and 17 years is also worrying the department officials. Only 6.19 lakh, a mere 39 per cent, out of the 15.94 lakh children aged between 12 years and 14 years have taken their second doses. Likewise, only 10.49 lakh, a mere 44 per cent, out of the 23.98 lakh minors aged between 15 and 17 years have been vaccinated with the second dose.

Dr Rakesh Dayal, the nodal officer for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in the state, conceded that the numbers were low. “Since the Covid-19 graph has flattened, a reluctance has crept in among the population for the vaccines. However, there is a need to ramp up the numbers. A review meeting will soon be held by the health secretary to decide the future course of action,” he told TOI.

Echoing his views, Dr Pradeep Kumar Singh, the secretary of IMA-Jharkhand chapter, said, “Since Covid-19 cases have become negligible now, the parents are also reluctant to get their children vaccinated.”

Health officials in Ranchi district said vaccination centres are being set up in urban and rural areas like the pandemic times, but are witnessing a low turnout. “On an average, over 30 centres are being run every day in urban areas of Ranchi. But the turnout is very poor,” a health worker said.

To avoid vaccine wastage, the department officials dispatched over 2 lakh doses to Gujarat in October. “The vaccines are purchased by the Centre and provided to the states based on their requirements. Since the batches had short expiry, they were sent to Gujarat,” an official said.