Only 6% yet to take first dose of Covid vaccine, claims Chandigarh DHS

CHANDIGARH: Only 6% of city residents are to take the first dose of the Covid vaccine. With August 15, the deadline of attaining 100% coverage, hardly a week away, this feat is within reach, claimed director, health services, UT (DHS) Dr Amandeep Kang.
She claimed, “94% above 18 years have been vaccinated. Let us strive for 100% by August 15. All vaccination centres in civil hospital and dispensaries will remain open on Sunday.”
UT has averaged more than 9,000 doses a day and an average of 7,000 doses a day will be good enough to cover the remaining 42,000 residents by August 15.
“Mobile vaccination teams have been going to religious places, community centres and areas like Mauli Jagran, Dhanas and Hallomajra. This is to ensure that those who are unable to get access to hospitals can get vaccines nearer to home,” said the DHS.
The target, she claimed, would be achieved ahead of the December deadline announced by the GoI for the entire country. “The city has a small population and it is not difficult to cover all. Moreover, the second wave fuelled scare among residents who overcame vaccine hesitancy,” said an offical in the UT health department.
The UT health department aims to achieve 100% coverage for the first dose and be the first in the country to do the same.
“We have written to the union ministry of health and family welfare to look at the database which has over projected the population here. Once that is accepted, we might get an official nod for being the first in the country to achieve 100% target for the first dose coverage,” claimed an official in the UT health department.