Over 2 lakh skip 2nd dose of Covid-19 vaccine in Patiala district

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 23

Over 2 lakh beneficiaries in the district have skipped the due date of their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. A dip in the Covid cases is said to have made the people complacent. Around 1 lakh beneficiaries are from Patiala city.

It was learnt that beneficiaries were reluctant to get the second dose. The fear of Covid-19 infection during the second wave had prompted the beneficiaries to receive the first jab, said health officials. “Ours is a fear-driven society, and now there is no fear of Covid. Daily Covid cases are too low in numbers to create fear. Consequently, people have become complacent toward the vaccination,” said a health official.

The Health Department said they had identified 902 eligible beneficiaries in 4,835 households in 57 villages on Tuesday. However, around 417 persons, after a lot of persuasion by health officials, agreed to get the shots.

Dr Veenu Goyal, District Immunisation Officer, said the beneficiaries were not enthusiastic to come forward for their second dose on their due date. “Some of the beneficiaries come on 90th day, while the due date is after a gap of 84 days. Lakhs of beneficiaries have missed the due date of their second dose in the district. We are going door to door to vaccinate people.”

She added that some beneficiaries flatly refused to get their second dose while the others said they were busy and would get their due dose whenever they would be free.

The department said around 10.71 lakh beneficiaries, out of the targeted 14 lakh residents, had received a single dose of the vaccine, while 4.40 lakh had received both doses.