NONGPOH, Jan 14: The Ri Bhoi District Task Force on health related issued, on Thursday, organised a meeting which deliberated on COVID-19 vaccination and other wide range of subjects.
In the meeting, held at the conference hall of the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner’s Office, it was informed that the Pulse Polio Immunization 2021 programme had to be postponed due to COVID-19 vaccination drive. It was also revealed that 35 per cent of the total population in the district is yet to be immunised due to refusal by parents.
Taking about the much-awaited COVID-19 vaccination drive, DM&HO of Ri Bhoi, Dr M Mawrie, informed that Umsning CHC has been selected for launching the vaccination in the district.
Allaying fears of the public regarding the vaccines, the DM&HO said that every vaccine has side-effects like mild fever etc. “I urge the people not to have any fear to get them vaccinated as it will end up in their best interests,” Dr Mawrie added.
Lamenting over the rise of POCSO cases in the district – from 44 cases in 2019 to 50 cases in 2020, the Chairperson of the Task Force and Ri Bhoi DC, RM Kurbah, stressed on the need to create awareness on prevention of sexual abuse of minors.