Assam completes 3 crore COVID vaccine doses despite hesitation. Guwahati News – Times of India

Guwahati: Assam Achieved the achievement of three crore vaccinations for Kovid-19 on Saturday afternoon.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Describing this achievement as a step towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to make India COVID-19 free. “Gratitude to the doctors and healthcare workers,” he tweeted.

A total of over 2.13 crore 18 eligible population in the state were required to give less than 10 lakh first doses by the end of November for vaccination. But what is now emerging as a major challenge and obstacle is hesitation among tribals and Christians, as they fear that vaccination can lead to death and sterility.
“Three crore vaccinations is a huge milestone, though we are facing vaccine hesitation and resistance in most tribal-inhabited areas,” Munindra Nath Ngeti, state nodal officer for COVID-19 vaccination, told TOI.
Due to this hesitation, he pointed out that the daily first dose vaccination has come down to 35,000 in the past few days, although on Saturday more than 1.81 lakh doses were given. About 2.04 crore (2,04,56,172) first dose and 96.26 lakh (96,26,295) second dose have been given so far in Assam.
Office of the Director of national health missionAssam on Saturday wrote to the principal secretaries of Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and DCs of Dima Hasao Autonomous Council. Kokrajhari, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri, Sonitpur, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts will involve all local religious leaders to address the hesitation of the vaccine.
health minister Keshab Mahanta, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua and several other senior health department officials called a meeting with the Christian community leaders of Kamrup (Metro), Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Kokrajhar. goalpara, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts on Friday to address the issue of vaccination hesitancy in some areas of tribal-dominated districts. While vaccine hesitation pockets have been found scattered and far-flung, remoteness is posing a major challenge for last mile vaccination, read the minutes of the meeting.
The letter, written on Saturday, said local church leaders may be requested to make a strong appeal to people in their community to get vaccinated, especially during Sundays. “The District Officers may visit religious places before/after the prayer time on 14-11-21 and interact with the participants and motivate them for vaccination,” it said.
On November 15, video conferencing will be held with the DCs of eight districts under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of the state. DCs have been asked to make an intensive micro-level plan to ensure 100% vaccine coverage within the specified time frame in their respective districts.
“The Deputy Commissioner will identify vulnerable areas in the district and depute a composite team of officials from health and other departments to visit those areas and remove vaccine hesitation among other issues,” said the local police, Gaonburah (village chief). Read the letter while adding. And village defense teams should be extensively involved in sensitive areas to avoid any law and order issue.