Agartala, June 26: Though a little late to begin the second phase of the COVID-19 inoculation, Tripura in northeast India said it has covered around 80 percent of its eligible adults with at least the first dose of the vaccine.
It wasn’t until past May 13 that Tripura had begun the second phase of inoculation for those between 18 and 45 year age group, which had already begun nationwide from May 1. The state had reeled under a dearth of doses and was only inoculating those above the age of 45 years along with other frontline workers who were the first to get jabbed.
Tripura’s National Health Mission Director, Siddhartha Shiv Jaiswal, said on Friday, “All of our healthcare and frontline workers have been vaccinated with the first dose. We have administered the first dose to 98 percent of those above 45 and 50 year old and the gap is mostly among those in 18-44 age group. Approximately, 80 percent of the state’s eligible population have been given at least one dose.”
The frontier state had begun vaccination for the healthcare workers on January 16 this year and followed it up with other frontline workers like police and municipal workers on February 5. Data shows that 73 percent of healthcare workers and 56 percent of frontline workers have been given both doses of the vaccine.
A total of 24.29 lakh doses have been administered, of which 15.12 lakh have been for people aged above 45 years (including above 60 years age group) and 9.16 lakh people in the 18-44 age group. Of these, 5.6 lakh people have been administered both the doses.
According to 2011 census, Tripura has a population of 36.7 lakh.
“We have covered 47 percent of those above 45 with the second dose. Only two percent of those who were administered the first dose of Covaxin have been administered the second dose,” said Dr. Jaiswal.
Jaiswal further informed that at least Seven villages – six in North Tripura and one in Sepahijala district – has managed to inoculate all its eligible population with at least one dose of the vaccine.
Tripura currently has 24.9 lakh doses of Covishield and 2.10 lakh doses of Covaxin in stock.
