Meghalaya today crossed 2 million, or 20 lakh, Covid-19 vaccinations administered since the beginning of the year. The exact figure stands at 20, 05,388.
There were 7,901 vaccines given in the state today, according to Health Department figures, including to 6,343 people between 18 and 44 and 1,436 to those 45 and above. Fifteen healthcare workers and 107 frontline workers also got the jab today.
Around 11.75 lakh people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while around 8.25 lakh are double-jabbed.
Although the 20 lakh figure is a milestone, the state has had a problem, as the pandemic goes through a trough, of too many people skipping their second doses.
Nationwide, there have been more than 128 crore Covid vaccines administered.
Meanwhile, in encouraging eligible residents of Ri-Bhoi to get vaccinated against Covid-19, the Ri Bhoi district administration began a ‘Special Vaccination Campaign’ by adopting an election mode.
This means that zonal and sector officers, along with government employees, are available at all polling stations to encourage vaccination.
The two-day mass vaccination drive started in polling stations of Umling block, to be followed by Jirang block on December 9 and 10, Umsning block on December 13 and 14 and Bhoirymbong block on December 16 and 17.
Less than 60 per cent of the population of Ri-Bhoi have so far been vaccinated against Covid-19, with numbers dropping as the pandemic ebbs; there are currently only five active coronavirus cases in the entire district.
The election mode vaccination drive has already seen some measurable success, according to district officials, as Ri-Bhoi has made up around half of the 7,500 jabs administered around the state today.
The West Garo Hills district administration on the other hand has tasked each department within the district to begin Covid-19 vaccination drive on a mission-mode from December 8.
Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh has asked all heads of departments in the district to take the vaccination drive on a mission-mode by clubbing their scheme programmes with vaccination as well as to urge and motivate people to take the jab.
The Deputy Commissioner said the vaccination drive on a mission-mode will give more focus in Rongram and Gambegre Blocks where there is hesitancy to the Covid-19 vaccine.
Although the West Garo Hills district has a robust figure of about 93 per cent of all its eligible population having been vaccinated, some 7 per cent are still to be vaccinated.
This deficit and the overall low percentage of the State as whole in comparison to other states, has prompted the central government to issue directives to the state to scale up the vaccination drive as a protective and precautionary measures against the disease in view of the reported cases of virus being mutated in more virulent form in some western countries, the DC pointed out.
Meghalaya today recorded 16 new cases of Covid-19 along with 14 recoveries and no fatalities.
In total, East Khasi Hills recorded 14 new cases, Ri-Bhoi one and West Garo Hills one.
East Khasi Hills also accounted for 12 recoveries, East Jaiñtia Hills one and Ri-Bhoi one.
In all, Meghalaya has had 84,599 Covid-19 cases, of which 246 are active, 82,878 have recovered and 1,475 have died from the virus.
