GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Tuesday imposed round-the-clock curfew in seven districts of Assam, putting a large number of people in these districts vulnerable to exposure to the virus without a vaccine shield.
In many districts of Assam, where vaccination was stalled a few days ago, not a single vaccination center was operational in Goalpara. biswanath On Tuesday – two of the seven districts are completely under control. If the state does not receive the vaccine consignment in the next few days, the vaccination campaign in other vulnerable districts may soon be suspended. In Golaghat and Sonitpur districts, which had topped the district with the highest number of cases in the last 10 days, only 21 and 33 vaccination center Been active till Tuesday afternoon.
But other vulnerable districts are also struggling to meet the demand for vaccination. In Jorhat, only seven session venues were operational, while in Lakhimpur and Morigaon, four and one session venue were functional. In other districts, Bongaigaon also could not operate any center during the day.
“There is no stock of Kovishield in our district since Monday. Very few beneficiaries are getting the second dose with limited covaccine stock reserved for them,” said Dr PK Bharali, District Immunization Officer, Goalpara.
Goalpara is one of the districts that received overwhelming response for the vaccination campaign launched on June 21. The district has the capacity to vaccinate 15,000 to 20,000 people per day through 105 session sites created. But people had to back down. Bharali said that out of 7.02 lakh 18+ population of the district, about one lakh people have been vaccinated so far. “If there is a third wave in the state amid this acute vaccine shortage, not only children but adults will also face a greater risk of infection,” he said.
Officials said the state government’s emphasis is on providing more vaccines to the districts from where the maximum number of cases have been reported. However, due to the vaccine crisis, the worst affected Sonitpur district also had to reduce vaccination sites by about 70 per cent. Over 100 sites were operational at the start of the mega drive in Sonitpur last month. Sonitpur has a population of over 8 lakhs 18+ though only three lakhs have been vaccinated so far.
“Vaccination is the only way to protect people from the virus. But even now, many elderly people are hesitant as some are daily wage earners,” said Dr Biman Sarma, District Immunization Officer, Sonitpur.
As per the schedule of the State Immunization Office, the next batch of Kovid vaccines is likely to arrive on July 12. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that meanwhile, health workers should give priority to immunization of children for other diseases. “Traditional vaccination for children should not be held back during Covid. Otherwise, the children will fall prey to other diseases. Till the time the Covid vaccine is available, more manpower should be deployed for vaccinating children in the next one week,” Sarma said.
About 77.10 lakh doses have been given in Assam, although the vaccinated 18+ population is over two crore.
In many districts of Assam, where vaccination was stalled a few days ago, not a single vaccination center was operational in Goalpara. biswanath On Tuesday – two of the seven districts are completely under control. If the state does not receive the vaccine consignment in the next few days, the vaccination campaign in other vulnerable districts may soon be suspended. In Golaghat and Sonitpur districts, which had topped the district with the highest number of cases in the last 10 days, only 21 and 33 vaccination center Been active till Tuesday afternoon.
But other vulnerable districts are also struggling to meet the demand for vaccination. In Jorhat, only seven session venues were operational, while in Lakhimpur and Morigaon, four and one session venue were functional. In other districts, Bongaigaon also could not operate any center during the day.
“There is no stock of Kovishield in our district since Monday. Very few beneficiaries are getting the second dose with limited covaccine stock reserved for them,” said Dr PK Bharali, District Immunization Officer, Goalpara.
Goalpara is one of the districts that received overwhelming response for the vaccination campaign launched on June 21. The district has the capacity to vaccinate 15,000 to 20,000 people per day through 105 session sites created. But people had to back down. Bharali said that out of 7.02 lakh 18+ population of the district, about one lakh people have been vaccinated so far. “If there is a third wave in the state amid this acute vaccine shortage, not only children but adults will also face a greater risk of infection,” he said.
Officials said the state government’s emphasis is on providing more vaccines to the districts from where the maximum number of cases have been reported. However, due to the vaccine crisis, the worst affected Sonitpur district also had to reduce vaccination sites by about 70 per cent. Over 100 sites were operational at the start of the mega drive in Sonitpur last month. Sonitpur has a population of over 8 lakhs 18+ though only three lakhs have been vaccinated so far.
“Vaccination is the only way to protect people from the virus. But even now, many elderly people are hesitant as some are daily wage earners,” said Dr Biman Sarma, District Immunization Officer, Sonitpur.
As per the schedule of the State Immunization Office, the next batch of Kovid vaccines is likely to arrive on July 12. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that meanwhile, health workers should give priority to immunization of children for other diseases. “Traditional vaccination for children should not be held back during Covid. Otherwise, the children will fall prey to other diseases. Till the time the Covid vaccine is available, more manpower should be deployed for vaccinating children in the next one week,” Sarma said.
About 77.10 lakh doses have been given in Assam, although the vaccinated 18+ population is over two crore.
.