TURA, April 1: The third phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive for people in the age group of 45 years and above was rolled out across Garo Hills, together with the rest of the country, on Thursday with many citizens walking up to the health centres and hospitals to receive the jab.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh said that the roll-out of the third phase of Covishield vaccine was going smoothly with many citizens coming forward to take the first dose of the vaccine in different parts of the district, including Tura.
More than 65 million doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine ‘Covishield’ have so far been administered all over the country in two phases, mostly to frontline workers and people above the age of 60.
In Tura, as in other places, the women folk outnumbered the men as the largest group to take the vaccine. In sub-centres, dispensaries and hospitals in Tura, the women were the first and the last to take the jab on the first day of the roll-out.
“We have not fixed any target but the numbers are very encouraging. We are urging upon everyone, including the men, to take the vaccine because it will provide long-lasting protection not only to themselves but the family as well,” says Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh.
Though the women folk are leading the fight against the coronavirus by coming forward to take the vaccine, yet the uptake has been slow in recent weeks because of vaccine apprehensions as well as a lack of awareness among many, particularly in the rural areas.
Fake stories or rumours have added to the mistrust and doctors and medical experts are urging the public to take the vaccine due to the presence of multiple new strains of the virus and a spike in COVID cases in many parts of the country.
In Tura alone, there are 22 young children under quarantine inside Don Bosco School after they got infected with the virus from a carrier, unknowingly.
There has been good news on the surveillance front with no new cases detected after the outbreak in Don Bosco School.
“We conducted COVID tests on 45 other contacts connected with the Don Bosco case and even took random tests. Fortunately, all turned up negative,” confirmed Ram Singh.
The deputy commissioner has advised the public to remain vigilant and adhere to the guidelines of wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing to prevent a second wave in coronavirus cases hitting Meghalaya, particularly Garo Hills region.