Shillong, Aug 15: On the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday said the State Government has also decided to award the first 100 villages which achieve full vaccination coverage of eligible population by 31st August, 2021.
An amount of Rs. 5 lakhs will be given to every such village for carrying out development works.
This announcement comes as a way to encourage vaccine coverage as the state battles vaccine hesitancy. As on date only 47% of eligible individuals have taken at least their first dose.
“Despite the understanding that COVID-19 vaccination is crucial for protection against severe disease and death, the progress of COVID-19 vaccination in the State is sadly unsatisfactory. There is considerable vaccine hesitancy in the State especially in the rural areas largely due to misinformation,” Sangma said in his speech at the Polo grounds.
Along with vaccine hesitancy, he said the State is also confronted with refusal for testing and delays in seeking medical attention by infected persons.
“Studies and statistics world over as well as practical evidence have indicated that the impact of COVID-19 has not been severe on persons who have been vaccinated. Vaccines give protection from serious illness and death,” he stressed.
He also expressed that since the beginning of this pandemic, the government has followed a collaborative approach in dealing with every challenge, by involving the community leaders, localities, religious institutions and above all the people of the State.
“Through this process we have been able to deal with the various issues and reduce the suffering of our citizens. We are still in the second wave of the pandemic. Though the number of cases today is on the decline compared to the peak in May 2021, our positivity rates continue to be high. We need to be extremely vigilant and follow all COVID-19 protocols,” he said.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the state has recorded more than 71,000 positive cases, and lost more than 1,200 lives.
