COVID-19 vaccines arrive at Dimapur Airport on June 11. (Photo Courtesy: @aairedner/Twitter)
Over 3.35 lakh beneficiaries administrated 1st dose so far in the State
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 11
The department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW), Nagaland has set a target of 16,500 inoculations per day during the 11-day intensified vaccination drive from June 8-18.
The State Immunisation Officer, DoHFW, Dr Ritu Thurr stated this during an interview with Air India Radio (AIR) News Kohima on June 11.
The department is planning to cover at least 30 percent of the 1st dose to 18 years and above within this month or by the first week of July, he was quoted as saying by the regional News Services Division of the national radio broadcaster in an update on its official Facebook page.
He hoped that by October, the second doses will be covered so that 50 percent of the population is fully immunized with the COVID vaccine, it added.
In an official release on June 7, the DoHFW informed that all health facilities and outreach session sites in urban colonies and villages will be covered from Monday-Friday during the intensified vaccination drive. It further requested all the eligible 18-44 years and 45+ years beneficiaries to avail the opportunity and get vaccinated.
Meanwhile, DR Thurr further informed the AIR News Kohima that vaccination coverage among the 45 years and above continues to be low and said that the department has written to all the district task force to conduct more robust activities on advocacy and awareness among the faith-based organisations and NGOs.
“Mon and Mokokchung districts are performing well in carrying out the importance of vaccination,” he added.
Dr Thurr also informed that most COVID-19 deaths in the state were also attributed to those who were not vaccinated.
He also dismissed the rumours, fake news and religious misinterpretation on the COVID-19 vaccine and said that one should not be carried away.
State receives 56,810 more vaccines
Meanwhile, the AIR update quoting the SIO, also informed the State is getting the second batch of 56,810 Covishield vaccines procured by the state government on June 11. Earlier, the State had procured and received 36,850 vials as the first consignment.
In a related development, the official handle of the Regional Executive Director (RED) of Airports Authority of India (AAI), North Eastern Region updated on Twitter that 5 more boxes of COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Dimapur Airport on June 11.
The much-needed vaccine doses were delivered safely to the health department, Government of Nagaland, it added.
The DoHFW, meanwhile, in an update on Friday evening informed that a total of 3, 35,555 doses have been administrated in the State till June 11.
According to the update, out of 78,738 frontline workers (FLWs), 75.3% have received their doses while 61.9% of 25,339 targeted healthcare workers have been administrated the 1st dose.
However, only 28.4% out of an estimated 4, 54,527 beneficiaries in the 45 years and above category have received their 1st dose.
The percentage for the 18-44 years age group was 9.7% out of 7, 96,118 targeted beneficiaries. However, the vaccination process for the 18-44 years age group in Nagaland began only on May 17 and only limited doses are made available for the cohort so far.
