PANAJI: The state government said that 100% of Goa’s eligible population of 11.6 lakh has been fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 as on Wednesday. Director of health services Dr Ira Almeida said that Goa reached the target set by the Union ministry of health and family welfare, and that 100.58% of the target population has received both doses of the vaccine.
State immunization officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said that Goa is among the few states to have completed 100% vaccination. He said it was due to the state’s vaccination drive that the third wave caused fewer deaths as compared to the second.
“Indeed we got lots of infections, but hospital admissions were low, and it was possible as more people were immunised,” said Borkar.
India started its covid vaccination program on January 16, 2021. “Despite all the hurdles such as heavy rain and cyclone Tauktae, the health centers remained open throughout to complete vaccination expeditiously,” Borkar said.
He said that Covid vaccination was not halted even on Sundays and public holidays, and at some centres, vaccination was held from 8am to 8pm.
However, he said that some people would still come to get vaccinated with either their first or second dose. “They must be either from other states, or people within the state who were elsewhere, and have returned recently,” he said.
People keep coming to get vaccinated, he said, “but those coming to take their first doses have reduced significantly. We are happy that people are coming to get vaccinated,” he added.
With regards to the vaccination of school children, he said that so far, 87.5% of children in the 15-18 age group have been vaccinated with the first dose, and 65% have been fully vaccinated.
The delay in vaccination of some children has been owing to their infection. “Many children got Covid during the third wave, and so they have to wait for 90 days to get vaccinated,” he added.
Almeida said that in Goa, Covid vaccination has been integrated with the routine immunization programme, and that all centers that were opened for Covid vaccination will be shut, but Covid vaccines will be available at health centres.
State immunization officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said that Goa is among the few states to have completed 100% vaccination. He said it was due to the state’s vaccination drive that the third wave caused fewer deaths as compared to the second.
“Indeed we got lots of infections, but hospital admissions were low, and it was possible as more people were immunised,” said Borkar.
India started its covid vaccination program on January 16, 2021. “Despite all the hurdles such as heavy rain and cyclone Tauktae, the health centers remained open throughout to complete vaccination expeditiously,” Borkar said.
He said that Covid vaccination was not halted even on Sundays and public holidays, and at some centres, vaccination was held from 8am to 8pm.
However, he said that some people would still come to get vaccinated with either their first or second dose. “They must be either from other states, or people within the state who were elsewhere, and have returned recently,” he said.
People keep coming to get vaccinated, he said, “but those coming to take their first doses have reduced significantly. We are happy that people are coming to get vaccinated,” he added.
With regards to the vaccination of school children, he said that so far, 87.5% of children in the 15-18 age group have been vaccinated with the first dose, and 65% have been fully vaccinated.
The delay in vaccination of some children has been owing to their infection. “Many children got Covid during the third wave, and so they have to wait for 90 days to get vaccinated,” he added.
Almeida said that in Goa, Covid vaccination has been integrated with the routine immunization programme, and that all centers that were opened for Covid vaccination will be shut, but Covid vaccines will be available at health centres.
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