Health workers facing resistance in vaccination mission, seven lakhs gets first dose

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, 14 Jul:  The health department on Wednesday informed that the health workers engaged in the vaccination mission are facing resistance from the public in a few pockets of some districts.

The health department did not disclose the names of the particular districts.

State Covid vaccination campaign Nodal Officer Dr Dimon Padung informed that in order to clear the misconception among people over the Covid vaccine, the department has to carry out awareness campaign engaging faith-based leaders in the training and Panchayat leaders, besides inducting brand ambassador in the districts to appeal to the people to come forward for the vaccination.

Dr Padung further informed that there are several factors for Covid-vaccine hesitancy among the people, including abstinence from alcohol, aggravation of chronic disease, rumour on social media that vaccination campaign is a strategy to control population and lack of sexual interest, etc.

He further added the health workers are facing inclement weather conditions, like road blockade and irregular mobile connectivity due to heavy rainfall across the state.

“However, the health department is successfully carrying out vaccination campaign and the number of vaccination coverage is increasing every day,” Dr Padung added.

He informed that, so far, a total of 7,23,383 people have been administered with the vaccine, of which 6,03,563 people have been administered with the first dose and 1,19,820 have taken both doses.

The department’s data suggested that 57 percent of those in the category of above 18 years old have been administered with the first dose of vaccine, while 18 percent have been administered with their second dose, so far.

Till 13 July, the state had 1,37,370 doses of vaccine availability, supplied by the Government of India, and 470 doses procured by the state government.