GUWAHATI: As
healthcare workers have slowly started trusting the efficacy of the
Covid vaccine in the state,
Assam health department has expanded the number of session sites beyond 300 from the existing 65.
With a sudden surge in the inoculation drive, 41.16% of the 2.11 lakh targeted healthcare workers were vaccinated by Saturday evening.
Health officials said that from major hospitals in the district headquarters, the vaccination centres, known as session sites, have been expanded to the block PHC and CHCs. They said, this renewed trust in the vaccine has yielded a significant increase in the number of people getting inoculated in a quick span of time. Significantly, no adverse event following immunization (AEFI) was reported till 6 pm on Saturday.
“As no serious adverse impact was reported, healthcare workers came out in considerable numbers. That is why we have been able to open the session sites at the grassroots level,” director of health services (family welfare), Assam, Munindra Nath Ngatey, told TOI.
As an outcome, he said the cumulative total number of vaccinated healthcare workers across the state now stands at 87,308. Around 10,044 beneficiaries were vaccinated on Saturday (till 6pm) through 205 sessions.
More than 16,000 healthcare workers were vaccinated on Thursday and Friday. Even as it slowed down by a few thousand on Saturday, it continued to cross the 10,000 mark, which Ngatey called an overwhelming response. “The second dose is going to start in Assam from February 13 itself,” he added.
Out of the total of 205 session sites active on Saturday, 185 administered
Covishield to 9,011 beneficiaries, while 20 sites administered
Covaxin to 1,033 beneficiaries.
After being administered with the first dose of Covishield, Dr Gulab Hussain, MO (Ayur) from Algapur BPHC,
Hailakandi district, said, “The Covid vaccine is totally safe, which will help in keeping us protected from the Covid-19 virus. Our healthcare workers should not be hesitant and should get themselves vaccinated.”
A health ministry statement said that while 12 states and UTs have achieved 60% or more vaccination coverage of healthcare workers, they were all advised to improve the percentage coverage as there are many states and UTs that need to improve their performance. “States/ UTs were advised to ensure regular review meetings of the state, district and block task force to assess the emerging challenges, understand the ground issues and promptly address them at appropriate levels,” it said, further adding that every state and UT must schedule all healthcare workers for vaccination at least once before February 20 and immediately thereafter organize mop-up rounds for them.