Only 42 turn up for Covid vax in 2 days at Dera Bassi

Gaurav Kanthwal

Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, January 4

With only two and 40 targetted beneficiaries (age group 15-18 years) showing up for Covid-19 vaccination yesterday and today, respectively, here, the youth is yet to warm up in the fight against Covid. Officials attributed the lack of enthusiasm among the youth for vaccination to vaccine hesitancy.

“This response in the first two days was not expected. Probably, it will take a week or so before the pace of vaccination picks up. It may be due to vaccine hesitancy, but there is nothing to worry,” said Dera Bassi SMO Sangeeta Jain. “Once vaccination starts in schools, the numbers will rise fast,” she added.

The officials said the prevailing cold weather conditions might also be the reason for youngsters not turning up for vaccination.

Meanwhile, the rush for second dose among adults in Dera Bassi has been unprecedented. Close to 1,000 persons were vaccinated daily in the past two days. Long queues of people are seen outside the vaccination centres.

According to the officials, one team vaccinates around 300 persons daily. There are four teams deputed for the purpose in Dera Bassi and all have their hands full.

A total of 1,000 inoculations were carried out in the age group 15-18 years today in Mohali district. There are around 67,000 targeted beneficiaries in this age group in the district.

Both options, on-site registration and pre-registered vaccination, are available for this age group. Regarding the second-dose vaccination of adults, 72.8% population has been covered till now, said the officials.