Covid vaccination drive for those above 45 gains momentum in Jalandhar

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 2

The drive to vaccinate those above 45 years of age in the district got off to a roaring start. In the last two days, 8,447 persons between the age group of 45 to 60 years got vaccinated — 4,588 on Friday and 3,859 on Thursday.

• Also read: Covid-19: 9 deaths, 439 cases reported in Jalandhar district
• Covid-19: Hoshiarpur logs nine deaths, 183 new cases

Meanwhile, a total of 24,105 persons got vaccinated in the first two days of April 2021. While 11,950 persons got vaccinated on April 1; as many as 12,155 persons received their Covid vaccine on April 2.

The number of persons getting the jab per day has hence doubled since March as on March 31, only 6,343 persons received the Covid vaccination.

Notably, with a dramatic jump in Covid cases, after record highs in the district during the month of March, the vaccination centres had also been considerably ramped up and at least eight to 10 mobile vaccination vans had also been pressed into service to intensify the vaccination drive.

Officials said the recently introduced measures as well as the introduction of mobile vans coupled with the start of the start of next phase of the vaccination drive had given a boost to the number of those now choosing to get vaccinated.

Of the 12,155 vaccinated today, as many as 2,781 were frontline workers (out of which, 2,784 got the first dose, while 87 got the second one), 709 health workers (673 received the first dose, 36 got the second), 4,588 persons between 45 to 60 years of age (4498 first dose, 90 second dose) and 3,987 above 60 years of age (3,909 first dose, 78 second dose).

District Immunisation Officer Dr Rakesh Chopra said, “There has been a record vaccination in the district in the past two days. There is an immense response to the vaccination phase of those over 45 years of age. The enthusiasm of the public has also surpassed the previous phases. Over 11,900 got vaccinated on the first day of April alone and today, an additional persons 12,000 got vaccinated. Collectively, the number of persons who got vaccinated in the district has now crossed the 1,10,000 mark. While 250 centres are currently operational in the district, 216 centres were active on Thursday. With the help of mobile vans, the drive is reaching more and more people everyday.”

While citizens also keenly anticipate the next phase which will include those above 20 years of age – the DIO said the next phase is also expected to begin in a month or so in keeping with the steady advancement of vaccination phases by the government.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.