At 31.6%, Chandigarh first dose vax coverage sixth in country

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

The City Beautiful has administered over 44,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the week ending June 18, which is the highest since the vaccination programme began in the UT on January 16.

‘Can jab all in 2 months’

If we continue to vaccinate at the same pace, we will be able to jab the eligible population of the UT in the next two months. -  Arun Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health, UT

With more than 31 per cent first dose vaccination coverage of the population, the city stands sixth in the country. The first dose coverage is even double the national average – 16 per cent. At 64 per cent, Lakshadweep has the highest number of vaccination coverage as far as the first dose is concerned followed by Ladakh, Sikkim, Goa and Himachal Pradesh.

Arun Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health, UT, said, “Over 31 per cent of the UT’s entire population is vaccinated with the first dose. But, if we exclude the below-18 population, which is roughly about 40 per cent as per the 2011 Census, we can say that we have vaccinated about 50 per cent of the eligible beneficiaries for the first dose. Besides, about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries above 45 years of age have also been vaccinated in Chandigarh.”

“If we continue to vaccinate at the same pace, we will be able to vaccinate the eligible population of the UT in the next two months. Our coverage for the first dose is good because there is no hesitancy in the 18 to 44 age group. The vaccine was introduced for this group in the second wave when the cases were at peak, which boosted the vaccination drive,” added Gupta.

Now, the UT Health Department aims at vaccinating 10,000 beneficiaries every day before the third wave hits the region.

Dr Amandeep Kaur Kang, Director, Health Services, UT, said, “We have been vaccinating over 7,000 beneficiaries daily and aim at inoculating over 10,000 beneficiaries daily so that we cover a majority of eligible beneficiaries before the third wave strikes. After June 21, vaccine will be counted in common pool and more slots can be opened for beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group.”