Over 38 lakh skip second jab in Haryana

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 4

As many as 38.03 lakh people have so far not received their second dose of Covid vaccination against 1.86 crore who got the first jab across the state.

The data (compiled till November 30) was highlighted by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

She said a campaign, “Har Ghar Dastak”, had been launched on November 3, wherein those who missed their first dose and those due for the second one were identified and vaccinated on their doorstep. As many as 47.35 lakh missed their second dose in Punjab, 22.57 lakh in Delhi, 5.42 lakh in Himachal Pradesh and 2.25 lakh in Chandigarh.

Using voters’ list to reach masses

We are aggressively pursuing people to get the second dose. With the help of voters’ list, we are reaching out to them. The Civil Surgeons are contacting resident welfare associations too. —Dr Veena Singh, Director general, Health services

There are 29 such districts across the country where the first dose coverage is less than 50 per cent, including Haryana’s Nuh where so far only 38.2 per cent people had received the first dose.

“We need to prioritise the second dose. If there are so many people who have missed their second dose, they are at risk. We need to trace them. Now, there is no dearth of vaccines and discussions are on to reduce the gap between the two doses,” said Dr Dhruv Chaudhary, state nodal officer for Covid.

Dr Veena Singh, Director General, Health Services, said: “As per the details till Saturday, our first dose coverage is 91 per cent (1.87 crore) and second dose coverage is 51 per cent (1.05 crore). Nuh district pulls the figures down. But now, we have taken it up as a pilot project and figures are improving.”

Nuh DC Shakti Singh said: “As of today, we have comfortably crossed 50 per cent mark. We have formed vaccination monitoring committees at the village level who are coordinating with vaccination teams. The vaccination is now organised at the convenience of villagers. Chemists are offering 5 per cent discount for those who have taken the first dose and 10 per cent to those who have got the second one. Automobile dealers are also offering gifts to those fully vaccinated.”

1.86 crore received first dose
1.01 crore Got second jab *(till Nov 30)

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