PM reviews vax rate; interacts with Senapati DC
Source: Chronicle News Service / PTI

New Delhi/Imphal, November 03 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a review meeting with district commissioners of over 40 districts spread across Jharkhand, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and other states that are having low vaccination coverage and had a thorough discussion on challenges faced by them.

The virtual meeting was also attended by chief minister N Biren along with DCs of eight districts of the state with low vaccination coverage, namely Kangpokpi, Senapati, Ukhrul, Kamjong, Pherzawl, Tamenglong, Noney and Tengnoupal.

During the interaction, PM Narendra Modi spoke with DC Senapati Mahesh Hiralal Chaudhari.

The PM asked the DC on the reason behind the low coverage and directed him to take up specific steps for increasing the vaccination coverage.

In reply, DC Senapati presented before the PM issues that are plaguing the district and also assured that the district administration will take definite measures to increase the coverage in coming days.

It can be mentioned that the vaccination rate of first dose in Senapati district is 28.98 per cent and for second dose it is 19.23 per cent; in Tamenglong district the first dose vaccination rate is 35.32 per cent and second dose is 18.85 per cent; in Ukhrul district first dose rate is 19.93 per cent and second dose 13.44 per cent; in Tengnoupal district first dose rate is 43.86 and second dose 20.63 per cent; in Kangpokpi district first dose rate is 17.24 and second dose 8.59 per cent; in Kamjong district first dose rate is 28.51 and second dose 14.76 per cent; in Pherzawl district first dose rate is 31.26 and second dose 25.27 per cent and in Noney district first dose rate is 35.51 and second dose rate is 21.27 per cent.

Interacting with the DCs, PM Modi said the Covid-19 vaccination drive needs to be taken door-to-door now and stressed the importance of completing the inoculation by taking the second dose.

Cautioning against any laxity after surpassing the milestone of 1 billion vaccine doses, Modi said "a new crisis can come" and asserted that one should not underestimate "diseases and enemies as they should be fought till the very end".

He called for equal attention to taking the second dose of the Covid vaccine, noting that whenever the cases of infection start decreasing, the feeling of urgency among people decreases.

Talking about the issue of rumours and misunderstandings surrounding Covid vaccination, he said awareness is the only solution for this and asked the state officials to take help from religious leaders in this regard.

The Prime Minister noted that religious leaders are very enthusiastic about the vaccination campaign.

Recalling his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican a few days ago, Modi called for a special emphasis on taking the message of religious leaders on vaccines to the public.

Speaking to the officials, he urged them to change gears from making arrangements earlier for taking people to the vaccination centres and getting them safely vaccinated to now administering vaccines door-to-door.

Modi urged the health workers to reach every house with the passion of har ghar tika, ghar-ghar tika (vaccine at every doorstep).

He also urged the officials to work with the spirit of 'har ghar dastak' (knocking on every door) to ensure full vaccination of both doses.

"Now we are preparing to take the vaccination campaign to each household.

With the mantra of har ghar dastak', every household lacking the security net of a double dose of vaccine will be approached," he said.

The Prime Minister cautioned that while reaching out to every house, equal attention needs to be paid to the second dose along with the first dose of the vaccine.

During the meeting, the district magistrates gave an account of the issues and challenges being faced in their districts, which has resulted in low vaccination coverage, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

They highlighted issues like rumours resulting in vaccine hesitancy, difficult terrain, challenges created due to prevailing weather conditions in recent months, it said.

Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked the present chief ministers and said that their attention will encourage the district to work with more determination.

He also urged the administrators to work more on new innovative ways to increase vaccination in their districts.

He asked the officials to develop micro strategies, keeping in mind the experience so far to go for saturation of vaccination by addressing the gaps at the local level.

Modi asked the district officials to make different strategies for each village, each town in the districts, if need be.

He suggested this can be done by forming a team of 20-25 people depending on the region.

Modi also suggested trying to have a healthy competition in the teams that have been formed.

Exhorting the officials to prepare region-wise timetables for local goals, the Prime Minister said, "You will have to do your best to take your districts nearer the national average" .

He asked the district officials to learn from good practices of their colleagues in better performing districts and emphasised approaches suitable for the local needs and the environment should be adopted.

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