Team Herald
PANJIM: After being lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being the first State to cover its entire eligible population with first dose of anti-COVID vaccine; 80 per cent of the beneficiaries in Goa are now fully vaccinated.
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The coastal State is one amongst the top in the country to achieve such high milestone, only after Sikkim, whose coverage of second dose is 92 per cent.
In a bid to achieve target of fully inoculating the entire eligible population by November 15, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has organised a mega vaccination camp on Sunday, giving a further major push to the vaccination drive against the Coronavirus disease.
As per the chart released by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as on November 5, Goa has administered second dose to 80 per cent of eligible population, thus ranking second in the country. Sikkim with 92 per cent coverage tops the chart.
Himachal Pradesh (65 per cent), Gujarat (55 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (53 per cent) and Kerala (53 per cent) are the other leading States in vaccination.
As on November 5, in Goa, total doses administered are 21,70,976.
In a press statement released, Immunisation Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said that State desires to complete 100 per cent coverage of second dose by November 15, as per target set by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
Borkar said that to achieve the same, the DHS has organized a mega vaccination camp on Sunday, November 7, for administering first and second dose of vaccine.
The mega camp will be held across all government health centres, Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, sub-health centres, etc. As per the government records, there are close to two lakh eligible people, who are yet to take their second dose of vaccine, even after 84 days.
“According to the experts, since the COVID-19 cases have reduced significantly, this is the best time to get vaccinated and develop herd immunity,” Dr Borkar said.
