Rajasthan no. 2 in vaccination drive, 90% senior citizens covered | Jaipur News
Cowin.gov.in figures say as of May 29, the state had inoculated 1.69 crore people — 1.38 crore first dose and 31.09 lakh second dose. The percentage of those who have received both the doses stood at 5%, which according to the experts is very less in achieving any safety cover.
Officials claimed that the state has achieved 90% of its target in vaccinating people aged 60 years and above.
The website said the state inoculated 56.22 lakh senior citizens against a target of around 60 lakh. Badi Kalan gram panchayat in Nagaur was one among the many in the state to have achieved 100% target in inoculating 60 years age group while 70-80 per cent in 45 years and above age group.
In the country’s second and third-biggest districts —Barmer and Jaisalmer — where a health worker has to travel for over 100km, 50% target in the age group of 60 years age group has been achieved.
“Geography is the biggest challenge than anything else here. In some cases, the difference between the two villages is as far as 20km. Still, a major effort by Asha workers, ANM and anganwadi workers has helped in achieving the target to a large extent,” said Ashish Modi, DM Jaisalmer.
In absolute numbers, Jaipur is leading with 11 lakh vaccinations among many other state capitals including Ahmedabad (4.66 lakh), Patna (9.63 lakh), Bengaluru Urban (3.98 Lakh), Bhopal (8.16 Lakh) etc. The districts which have pulled down the graph are Pratapgarh, Sirohi, Jalore and Sawai Madhopur. Several vaccination camps in these districts have reported zero turnouts due to the barrage of misinformation for the vaccines. Dhariyawad tehsil in Pratapgarh, which lost is MLA Gautam Lal Meena, has recorded around 40% of its total aggregate target in 45-60 and 60 years above age group.
Siddhart Mahajan, secretary of the health and family welfare department, said the state was leading in the country in terms of vaccinating its people till April. “Supply chain issues have delayed the vaccination process in the state. The delay has drastically affected the speed,” said Mahajan. The erratic supply has been the biggest bottleneck in providing a safety cover to the state.
Mahajan said the state had followed a multi-layered strategy which helped in breaking the stereotype, myths and encouraged people to take it. “From roping in elected representatives to local influencers and from tracking the persons from voters list to integrated campaign has helped achieved this aim,” said Mahajan.
