Panchayats, teachers pitch in to bust myths on vaccine in Faridkot district

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, May 24

A week after an intensive campaign in rural areas to dispel fears about vaccination, Faridkot district has achieved 46 per cent of the jab target fixed by the state government.

From April 20 to May 23, the average vaccination achievement in the state against its set target is 24 per cent. While Patiala has the highest achievement with 51 per cent of the targeted vaccination during this period, it is followed by Mohali at 49 per cent, Ludhiana 47 per cent and Faridkot 46 per cent.

As many as 11 districts are lagging behind in the vax drive with an average achievement from 15 to 25 per cent of the target fixed by the Health Department. In rural areas, the mistrust is a result of a weak campaign, as villagers feel the vaccine has side-effects.

“Taking the services of teachers, panchayats, health and ASHA workers, we are putting our best efforts to dispel unfounded fears. More and more people in the rural areas have started coming forward for vaccination in the past week,” said Vimal Setia, Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot. “Against our daily vaccination target of 5,085 in the district, it remained at 1,581 in the past one month (from April 20 to May 23) but the last three-day average of vaccination in the district is about 2,500 daily due to an intensive campaign in rural areas,” said Sanjay Kapoor, Civil Surgeon, Faridkot. We have already vaccinated about 1,07,401 people out of the total population of about 6.20 lakh in the district, he added.