Bokaro: Senior citizens in Bokaro are showing great enthusiasm and coming forward in large numbers to for take Covid-19 vaccine since the second phase of the inoculation drive began on March 1. On Monday, about 900 persons were vaccinated while the number of beneficiaries increased to 1260 on Tuesday. Of them, 550 were senior citizens above 60 years of age. The 45-plus category saw fewer numbers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the vaccine on Monday has reduced hesitancy among the elderly and many began queuing up at the vaccination centers, some people said. The Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM) Centre, which was empty in the morning, saw a significant rise in footfall after the PM took his first shot at AIIMS, New Delhi. A health department staff said, “We did not expect such a rush of 60-plus category residents so early in the drive.”
Civil surgeon Dr A K Pathak said, “In the past two days, 2,100 people took the vaccine in the district. Senior citizens are motivated and coming forward in good numbers. We augmented the seating arrangements seeing a rise in the number of elderly people at the ANM vaccination centre.”
Bibhuti Bhusan (62), a resident of Sector 4, got vaccinated with his wife in the first lot. He said “Earlier, we were indecisive whether to wait for some time before taking the vaccine. But when I saw our Prime Minister take the jab, it gave us the confidence to go for it immediately.”
There are 11 vaccination centres in the district, including two in private hospitals and in Bokaro General Hospital (BGH). Of these, the ANM Centre near sadar hospital in the town saw the highest number of senior citizens getting inoculated.
Pathak said that the picture was different at centres in rural areas and not many seniors have turned up there. “We have formed a strategy to invite senior citizens in rural areas for vaccination. There are 32,000 beneficiaries of old-age pensions and most of them reside in rural areas. We have sent the list to health centres in eight blocks to inspire the elderly to take the vaccine,” he added.