Vax rate dips during Navratri by 4 times as people avoid taking jabs

Ranchi: The Covid-19 vaccination drive in the state has dipped by four times than normal during the Navratri celebrations as beneficiaries avoided inoculation during the festivities. Meanwhile, the state BJP unit has announced to felicitate all healthcare workers once the national vaccination mark crosses the 100-crore mark.
According to the state health department records, a total of 1,43,61,542 people have been administered their first dose while 46,87, 523 have been inoculated with both doses.
When TOI compared the vaccination data issued by the department between October 7 to 9 and October 13 to 15, it was found that the vaccination rate in the state has fallen to over 9,000 doses per day from a whopping over 87,000 daily shots.
According to the vaccination data, a total of 2,36,658 beneficiaries were inoculated between October 7 and 9 while a mere 28,213 turned up for vaccination during October 13 and 15. Among the 2,63,658 beneficiaries who were vaccinated between the first three days of Navratri, 1,48,821 received their first jab while 1,14,837 received their second dose. Meanwhile, among the 28,213 people who were inoculated during the last three days of Navratri, 13,484 received their first shot while 14,729 received the second dose.
On being asked about the reasons behind the low turnout, public health expert and professor of community medicine at Rims, Dr Dewesh Kumar, said, “Every vaccination drive sees such a dip whenever there are festivals or other national holidays. The beneficiaries have given vaccination a miss as they didn’t want to miss the festivities. Another reason is that many also want to avoid it during the Navratri festivities. It will pick up pace within a few days as nobody wants to miss out on the vaccine.”
Meanwhile, the state BJP has decided to celebrate 100 crore Covid vaccination shots in the country by felicitating doctors, nurses and hospital staff.
Talking to TOI, state BJP president Deepak Prakash said, “It is a proud moment for us that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is going to achieve the target of 100 crore vaccination shots. As of date, around 96 crore vaccine shots have been administered and once it crosses the 100-crore mark, the state BJP unit will felicitate our healthcare workers for their continued service.”
Prakash further said this milestone has been achieved due to Modi's initiative and the valuable contribution of BJP workers who mobilized the people for the vaccination drive.