Mandaviya to hold meet to discuss low vaccination rates in these states

The Covid-19 first dose vaccine coverage is less than 70% in Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Puducherry.

Union health and family welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the low Covid-19 first dose coverage in Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Puducherry. The Covid-19 first dose vaccine coverage is less than 70% in these states and Union Territories, people familiar with the developments told news agency PTI. He will also review the progress and planning of Covid-19 vaccination in these regions and discuss means to increase coverage.

43% of India’s population are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 while 82% of the eligible population have received the first dose of the vaccine. (HT FIle)

At least 56.7% of the eligible population in Meghalaya have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. In Manipur, the number is currently 54.2% while 49% and 65.7% of Nagaland and Puducherry's population, respectively, have been vaccinated with the first dose, officials said quoting government data on Sunday.

The government also launched the month-long ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign for the unvaccinated and for those who are overdue on their second vaccine. The campaign includes health officials going door-to-door identifying beneficiaries who are required to take the Covid-19 shots.

Officials say that more than 12 crore people are overdue for their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine following the expiry of the prescribed interval between the two vaccines.

“Mandaviya will hold a meeting to review the progress and planning of Covid-19 vaccination in Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Puducherry on Monday where the first dose coverage is less than 70%. The aim is to encourage vaccination there,” people familiar with the developments told news agency PTI. Officials say that 43% of India’s population are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 while 82% of the eligible population have received the first dose of the vaccine.