Akola. A period of one year has been completed till January 16 from the launch of the Corona Banakant Vaccination Campaign in the district. During this one year, 75 percent people in the district have taken the first dose and 41 percent people have taken the second dose of corona vaccine. In this way, considering the target of 30 lakh 56 thousand 30 doses, each of the total 15 lakh 28 thousand 15 beneficiaries has been given the first and second 17 lakh 98 thousand 691 doses of the vaccine. As a result, only 58 percent of the vaccination target has been met.
The vaccination against Corona started in the district on 16 January 2021. Since then lakhs of citizens have benefited from this vaccination. The second wave of deaths from Corona had created a lot of panic, but the vaccination has got a better response. But as soon as the second wave subsided, citizens again turned their backs on vaccination, but with the third wave, the vaccination picked up pace again. Meanwhile, there was a shortage of vaccines for some time in between.
During the campaign, facing various hurdles and challenges, medical officers, staff, ASHA volunteers and Anganwadi workers have passed the 58 per cent vaccination stage in the district. Assuming the total population of the district as 19 lakh 50 thousand, the work of vaccination is going on for the target of 15 lakh 28 thousand 15 beneficiaries. The corona vaccination campaign is being run under the guidance of senior medical officers of the District Administration, Health Department and under the leadership of District Vaccination Officer Dr. Manish Sharma.
For this, about 1100 ASHA, 1200 Anganwadi workers, more than 1000 health workers, in this way a total of more than 3000 employees are employed. Last year, the vaccination campaign started from three centers in the district. Expanding gradually, the demand for vaccines has increased so much that the number of centers has crossed 100. At present 108 sessions are going on in the district. Two missions ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ and ‘Mission Yuva Swasth’ have become important in the vaccination campaign. Two missions have benefited this group with a target of 8 lakh 81 thousand in the age group of 18 to 44 years.
decreased response during the second wave
We estimated that 1 million doses would be completed within a year, but the response in the second wave was less than the response in the first wave. With the third wave now that the vaccination has intensified, the health department expects the remaining target to be achieved in the next two to two and a half months.
95 percent vaccination by the end of February
About 90 to 95 percent vaccination can be completed by the end of February in the district. After January, there will be a decrease in COVID patients. In March and April, the number of patients and the number of serious patients will decrease further. This means that after April 90 percent of people will get both doses and 15 percent of people will get a booster dose.
In such a situation, a more mild form of Corona is expected. If the number of patients in the age group of 15 to 17 years continues to increase despite the achievement of most of the targets, the government will introduce vaccination in the lower age group. So the next phase will be for the children in the age group of 12 to 14 years. Health officials say that it is difficult to say when it will start.