19 Jan 2022  |   08:47am IST

16 out of 20 COVID deceased patients unvaccinated

16 out of 20 COVID deceased patients unvaccinated

Team Herald

PANJIM: In last four days, 20 COVID patients have succumbed to the virus infection of which 16 were not vaccinated, while one was a five-month-old baby. The rest three although vaccinated, were suffering from serious co-morbidities, health authorities informed on Tuesday. 

With more number of non-vaccinated people succumbing to COVID-19 during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave, the Goa government is making all efforts to immunise the left out beneficiaries at the earliest. 

Close to 12 per cent of the eligible population is yet to be fully vaccinated as against 110 per cent who have taken their first dose. 

As per the information provided by health authorities, 98 per cent of eligible population is fully vaccinated in Goa. Also, 10 per cent have taken their booster dose in the last one week and close to 75 per cent of those in the age of 15-18 years have been inoculated. 

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday held a COVID review meeting with Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, District Collectors, Chief Secretary, Dean Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Director of Health and Immunization Officer.

Addressing media persons post meeting, the Chief Minister lamented that majority of the COVID-related deaths in the current wave includes the non-vaccinated persons. 

Sawant said that at present, of the total 16 critical patients admitted in GMC, 13 have not even taken a single dose. 

"We need to understand the seriousness of the situation. If you see the data, non-vaccinated people are vulnerable to COVID in this wave. I appeal all those who have not taken vaccine to come forward and take it," he said. 

Sawant said health officers are in touch with the non-vaccinated people, appealing them to come forward and take their vaccine shot. 

"Even the response to booster dose is poor. Senior citizens and other beneficiaries need to take their booster shot as precautionary measure," he said. 

During the meeting, it has been informed that large number of people are opting for self testing; however the data is not been uploaded by the people. 

The Chief Minister said in the absence of data, the health officials are not able to monitor such patients and are also not in a position to provide medical kits. 

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the government, through FDA will make it mandatory for the pharmacies to keep personal record of all those buying self testing kits and provide the same to the Health Department, who will then monitor it.

On vaccination, Immunization Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said since January 10, so far only 10 per cent of the eligible population has taken their booster Jab, majority of them are senior citizens. 

He said the response from health workers and frontline workers is very poor to the booster shot. 

"When we contact non-vaccinated people to get themselves vaccinated, they come up with different reasons," he said adding, the rising number of deaths among non-vaccinated people proves that vaccine is the best precaution to fight COVID-19. 

GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said GMC has started identifying patients who are not vaccinated and is insisting that they get vaccinated. 

The government has also made COVID casualties operational at North and South Goa District Hospitals and also reserved two wards in super specialty block for infected patients. 


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar