BENGALURU: Six districts of Karnataka have vaccinated more than 90% of the eligible population with the first dose of the Covid vaccine.
Bangalore Urban Districts (excluding BBMP) have achieved the highest coverage (118%) on 23 October, followed by: Kodagu (96%), Udupi (92%), Ramnagar and Uttara Kannada (91% each) and Hasan (90%), according to statistics.
While the state average of first dose coverage is 85%, 16 districts have fared better. Bengaluru Rural has fared well in the state as well, but 14 other districts are yet to catch up. Kalaburagi has achieved the lowest coverage – so far only 69% of the eligible population has been given the first dose. The State Health and Family Welfare Department has started a door-to-door survey to identify those who are not vaccinated.
Although the state war room data mentions that four districts – Bengaluru Urban, Kodagu, Udupi and Ramanagara – have crossed 100% coverage of the first dose, the health department’s figures differ from this. “There seems to be a data mismatch. The Center has revised the target. Only Bengaluru Urban has exceeded 100% coverage of the target population estimated based on 2011 census data,” said Dr. Arundhati Chandrashekhar, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Karnataka said.
He said that the Center had recently changed the total target for the state from 4.9 crore to 4.8 crore and accordingly, the targets set for the districts have also been revised.
‘Cause for floating population to exceed target’
According to Arundhati, the temporary population of Bengaluru urban district is the primary reason for the vaccination figures to exceed the target. However, the district is still giving the first dose – the figure stood at 1,789 on Saturday.
Responding to TOI’s queries, Health and Family Welfare Department Commissioner D Randeep said that some hospitals like Narayana Hrudayalaya located in Bengaluru urban district organize vaccination camps in Bengaluru city. “All such vaccinations have been done in Bengaluru urban district,” Randeep said.
Officials say that although the first dose vaccination coverage within the BBMP range is 87 per cent, the actual number may be higher. He said that many Bengalis have been included under Bengaluru urban district.
Bengaluru city has administered the highest first dose – 79.3 lakh – out of the targeted 91 lakh eligible population.
The major concern facing districts crossing 90% coverage now is finding non-vaccinated persons to achieve 100% target. “It was not very difficult till we got to 85% as we reached out to the masses with supplies and awareness activities also helped. But after reaching 96% it becomes difficult to find the unaffiliated. We are conducting a survey to find out who has not taken the vaccine,” said Dr Gopinath S, reproductive and child health officer (RCHO) and in-charge of Covid vaccination in Kodagu district. There are some examples, especially in tribal areas, where vaccine denial is observed.
“A middle-aged man refused to jab, though several officials spoke about the benefits of the vaccine. The pockets of all the other members of his family have become loose. While it may be a stand-alone case, some who have the address of Kodagu in their Aadhaar cards do not live here and may have access to the vaccine where they live,” Dr Gopinath said. Describing the challenges of
Bangalore Urban Districts (excluding BBMP) have achieved the highest coverage (118%) on 23 October, followed by: Kodagu (96%), Udupi (92%), Ramnagar and Uttara Kannada (91% each) and Hasan (90%), according to statistics.
While the state average of first dose coverage is 85%, 16 districts have fared better. Bengaluru Rural has fared well in the state as well, but 14 other districts are yet to catch up. Kalaburagi has achieved the lowest coverage – so far only 69% of the eligible population has been given the first dose. The State Health and Family Welfare Department has started a door-to-door survey to identify those who are not vaccinated.
Although the state war room data mentions that four districts – Bengaluru Urban, Kodagu, Udupi and Ramanagara – have crossed 100% coverage of the first dose, the health department’s figures differ from this. “There seems to be a data mismatch. The Center has revised the target. Only Bengaluru Urban has exceeded 100% coverage of the target population estimated based on 2011 census data,” said Dr. Arundhati Chandrashekhar, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Karnataka said.
He said that the Center had recently changed the total target for the state from 4.9 crore to 4.8 crore and accordingly, the targets set for the districts have also been revised.
‘Cause for floating population to exceed target’
According to Arundhati, the temporary population of Bengaluru urban district is the primary reason for the vaccination figures to exceed the target. However, the district is still giving the first dose – the figure stood at 1,789 on Saturday.
Responding to TOI’s queries, Health and Family Welfare Department Commissioner D Randeep said that some hospitals like Narayana Hrudayalaya located in Bengaluru urban district organize vaccination camps in Bengaluru city. “All such vaccinations have been done in Bengaluru urban district,” Randeep said.
Officials say that although the first dose vaccination coverage within the BBMP range is 87 per cent, the actual number may be higher. He said that many Bengalis have been included under Bengaluru urban district.
Bengaluru city has administered the highest first dose – 79.3 lakh – out of the targeted 91 lakh eligible population.
The major concern facing districts crossing 90% coverage now is finding non-vaccinated persons to achieve 100% target. “It was not very difficult till we got to 85% as we reached out to the masses with supplies and awareness activities also helped. But after reaching 96% it becomes difficult to find the unaffiliated. We are conducting a survey to find out who has not taken the vaccine,” said Dr Gopinath S, reproductive and child health officer (RCHO) and in-charge of Covid vaccination in Kodagu district. There are some examples, especially in tribal areas, where vaccine denial is observed.
“A middle-aged man refused to jab, though several officials spoke about the benefits of the vaccine. The pockets of all the other members of his family have become loose. While it may be a stand-alone case, some who have the address of Kodagu in their Aadhaar cards do not live here and may have access to the vaccine where they live,” Dr Gopinath said. Describing the challenges of
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