Door-to-door vax drive in Mohali as people fail to turn up for 2nd dose

Gaurav Kanthwal

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 6

With more than 2.5 lakh eligible beneficiaries yet to be jabbed for the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the Health Department has now started door-to-door vaccination in the district.

It has not received huge success till now with the vaccination figure touching 5,519-mark (1,655 first dose, 3,864 second dose) on Monday. On an average, around 3,000 persons (both doses) were vaccinated in November daily. The administration had aimed at 10,000 vaccinations daily, but could not keep up the pace.

From December 1, the Health Department has started door-to-door vaccination after the November 30 deadline for complete vaccination was breached. Now, the department has revised its deadline to December-end.

Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia and Additional Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Agarwal visited Gharuan to oversee the vaccination drive today.

In September this year, the district had jabbed 100% of the eligible beneficiaries with the first dose. But the pace of the second dose has not been at the desired pace.

Given the tepid response for the second dose of vaccine in the past one week, it appears to be an uphill task. Officials said the new Covid variant, Omicron, had jolted people following which vaccination had picked up relatively.

Mohali Civil Surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur said: “Special camps are being organised, besides regular vaccination centres. Eligible persons are also being contacted on phone”.