Rural areas trail, health dept to take up Covid vax drive in two shifts

Prayagraj: Jolted by the low vaccination turnout in rural pockets, the district health department has now divided the drive into two shifts — from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5:30pm.
These measures, according to officials, have been taken under the micro plan to reach out to the maximum eligible recipients. Teams have been asked to visit their allotted villages and blocks by 9am and compile the data on Google sheet. Moreover, senior health officials — from senior medical officer (SMO) to additional chief medical officers (ACMOs) — have been directed to review the drive in rural areas.
Till now, a total of 37,36,188 people, including 19,87,224 males, 17,47,300 females and 1,664 transgenders, have been given jabs in Prayagraj district.
Senior Medical Officer (SMO) D. Anupam Dwivedi told TOI, “We are reaching out to eligible recipients, particularly in remote village areas, who are still left for vaccination.”
He said: “Vaccination teams are now visiting Mazara and remote villages to cover the recipients. Special camps are being held at primary schools to cover recipients of all age groups.”
In 10 days of November alone, 1,42,539 people, including 68,778 males, 48 transgenders and 73,313 females, have been administered Covid shot. Officials are making sincere efforts to reach out to the maximum rural population and for that ground level health workers — ASHA and ANMs — are conducting door-to-door survey .
District immunisation officer and additional chief medical officer, Dr Teerath Lal told TOI, “Out of 37,36,188 doses given so far, 27,96,356 recipients have received the first dose while 9,39,832 have got both.”
He added, “The department has set a target to cover 45,16,437 recipients in the district and about 83 percent of recipients have been given either first or second dose till now.”