Drives in localities, villages help many but fail to up vax numbers

Nagpur: Launched even before the Centre’s Near To Home Covid Vaccination, Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Vaccination In Your Locality and Vaccination In Your Village by the zilla parishad have helped many get the jab near their home, but it failed to increase the number of overall vaccination numbers significantly.
Now, the civic body is planning to provide inoculation at flat schemes and housing societies with a motive to cover remaining unvaccinated population.
With the decline in the pace of vaccination and a large number of people still unvaccinated, the NMC had launched Vaccination In Your Locality for 45-plus on May 24. On the same lines, ZP had started Vaccination In Your Village in rural parts of the district.
The Centre had on May 29 suggested Near To Home Covid Vaccination for elderly and differently-abled persons.
Between May 24 and 29, total 25,200 healthcare workers (HCWs), frontline workers (FLWs) and 45-plus had taken the first and second dose in the district for a daily average of 4,200. Between May 17 and 22, 41,706 were jabbed for a daily average of 5,958.
Total 22,591 were administered vaccine on May 13, followed by 12,180 on May 14 and 24,379 on May 15. Since then, the number of beneficiaries is going down and dropped below 5,000 per day. On Sunday, only 1,209 took the jab in the district.
The number of vaccinations per day dropped by almost four times in fourth week of May compared to the second week. Thus, it is clear that the initiatives of the NMC and ZP have helped in preventing drastic reduction in the numbers, but the drives failed to increase the number of overall beneficiaries.
As per data of state’s public health department (PHD), estimated population of the district is 52,72,665. The government had estimated around 30% (15,81,800) of total population in above 45 years age group. 8,01,175 (50.65%) people from 45-plus age group have taken the first dose as on May 29. Thus, 7,80,625 eligible people are yet to be vaccinated.
The NMC had also launched two Drive-In Vaccination centres and special days for some selected sectors.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI, “Vaccination In Your Locality will be continued as it helps people get the jab in their vicinity as per their convenience. We are planning to also facilitate vaccination in flat schemes and housing societies. Efforts will be taken to ensure all eligible are vaccinated.”
CEO of ZP Yogesh Kumbhejkar said, “Earlier, vaccination was facilitated at public health centres. We will continue vaccinating people by setting up centres at all villages. We are identifying HCWs, FLWs and villagers who have taken both the doses and were safe during the second wave. We will promote them as brand ambassadors in villages where there are apprehensions.”
Ruling party leader in NMC Avinash Thakre said, “Around 8 lakh people from 45-plus took the jab. Vaccination went down after interval between two doses of Covishield increased. Around 3.3 lakh people from the district were tested positive in the second wave from March to till date. Majority of people among these are from 45-plus age group. Therefore, not many eligible people have been left without vaccination, barring a few from slum areas and a community.”
Former MLC from NCP Prakash Gajbhiye said, “There is no hesitation for vaccine in slum areas. Vaccination centres should be set up in slums. As the duration between two doses of Covishield, which is available at almost all centres, has been increased to 12-16 weeks, many are waiting for other brands to be available which do not require such a prolonged wait. I don’t understand why the central government is not bringing other brands.”
Congress corporator Manoj Sangole said, “NMC should vaccinate people working as domestic help. These people are already facing serious financial problems due to lockdown. Because of their daylong work schedule, they are unable to visit vaccination centres.”
Shiv Sena youth leader Nitin Tiwari said, “Vaccination In Your Locality could not click due to BJP corporators who planned centres as per their vote bank and not as per the convenience of unvaccinated population. NMC should launch an app where live status of availability of vaccine and location of centres are available. All want to take vaccine and the NMC in unable to reach to the people.”