Covid-19: Chandigarh achieves 100% first vaccine dose target

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

On the eve of Independence Day, Chandigarh achieved a milestone in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic by vaccinating 100 per cent of its 18 plus population with the first dose of the vaccine.

October target for full immunisation of adults

The UT Administration has now set a target of October to achieve full immunisation of the whole adult population. Currently, 33.43% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated in Chandigarh.

On being asked what it took to achieve a 100 per cent target, the Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, Dr Amandeep Kang, said: “We had turned city buses into vaccination centres and deployed our health teams for the task to vaccinate people who could not come to the centres. We started vaccinating residents through door-to-door campaigns. The health volunteers would go to each house and encourage the eligible individuals to take the shot at these mobile vaccination centres.”

Chandigarh has completed the first-dose vaccination of 7,32,369 people, which accounts for 100.35 per cent coverage. On Saturday, Chandigarh vaccinated the highest number of 13,032 beneficiaries. “There may have been people from other states who got vaccinated in Chandigarh. No separate data is maintained for such people. They may have been counted in Chandigarh itself, hence the vaccination coverage will cross 100 per cent. As per the guidelines, anyone can get vaccinated in any part of the country irrespective of his residence. The aim is to vaccinate all.”

“Some workers from Baddi have also been coming to us for two days and we vaccinated them also. However, if they keep coming to us, then we will maintain a separate vaccination record,” she added. The UT Administration has now set a target of October to achieve full immunisation of the whole adult population. At present, 33.43 per cent of the adult population has been fully vaccinated in Chandigarh.

While Chandigarh has achieved a remarkable feat of 100 per cent coverage of Covid-19 first dose vaccination of the eligible population, 41 per cent of total population under 18 years of age is still without vaccination and remains susceptible to the virus.

The total population of Chandigarh is estimated at 12,36,987 and 59 per cent of it (7,29,822) is above 18 years and eligible for vaccination. Chandigarh had vaccinated 99.1 per cent of them with first dose till Friday.

“While a majority of children may not contract severe Covid-19 and results of sero survey suggest that at least 70 per cent of them have formed antibodies against the infection, it should be reiterated that children should wear masks and schools should ensure proper social distancing. We have to keep our children safe now,” said Dr Kang.

An eminent epidemiologist, Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, said: “There is plenty of evidence that schools do not pose additional risk to children. Even when schools were closed, we know through a sero survey that children have been infected. The risk of children getting infected at other public places is far higher than schools. The evidence is that vaccination of children is not a pre-requisite to open schools.

“There is more evidence needed. As and when vaccines become available, scientists and experts would take a call on that. Till then, schools should be open and parents should not be in rush to get children vaccinated. However, the adults should be vaccinated.”