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4th Jul 2021 11:07:PM State
R Kharmujai
Shillong, Jul 4: The vaccination rate in Meghalaya, which has approximately a population of over 34 lakh, has been significantly low with only 7,34,356 total doses administered as on Sunday.
As per the National Health Mission data released today, 6,50,477 persons received the first dose against COVID-19 and 83,879 persons were fully inoculated with the second dose across the state.
One of the primary reasons for a low rate of vaccination in Meghalaya is attributed towards ‘vaccine hesitancy’, especially in the rural areas, which are presently being increasingly infected with the Coronavirus on a daily basis.
However, the East Khasi Hills, that includes state capital Shillong, continues to remain the most Covid-19 hit district in the state with over 10 percent positivity rate, even as Union minister for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jitendra Singh has expressed concern over the high number of cases in Meghalaya, compared to other North-eastern states.
Keeping in mind the general aversion towards vaccination, the government has had to put up several bill boards across the state, especially in Shillong, declaring that “Covid-19 vaccines are safe” and even to the extent that “COVID-19 is real”.
The Meghalaya government, especially the East Khasi Hills district administration has taken several measures to encourage the citizens to get themselves vaccinated with the chief secretary making it categorical that those government employees, above the age of 45 who do not take the jab would have to mandatorily get themselves tested for COVID-19 every ten days and submit the report to the authorities.
Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills district, Isawanda Laloo’s order that all shops, vendors and commercial vehicle drivers and helpers should display their vaccination status was upheld by the Meghalaya High Court, which had recently issued an order to the same effect and had also asked the government to take action against individuals and organisations spreading ‘misinformation’ against the efficacy of vaccination.
“More than 90 percent COVID-19 cases detected in Meghalaya, as per genome-sequencing samples are of “delta variants (variants of concern), which should in itself be reason for caution and extra precaution by everyone to safeguard themselves and their loved ones”, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar has cautioned.
“It is of utmost importance that the individual or persons from each household who are venturing outside to work to earn their livelihoods be made to understand the importance of getting themselves vaccinated,” he has underscored.
Governor Satya Pal Singh has urged the people to get themselves vaccinated, while he too has been fully inoculated.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who had himself been infected with the virus in December last year and has since fully recovered, has been going all out to promote vaccination across the state, even as he himself has taken the full course.
“Let us take the responsibility to get vaccinated,” the Chief Minister had exhorted the people in a recent tweet.
Kenter Joya Riba
(Managing Editor)She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313
