Covid vaccination drive: Low turnout in Dakshina Kannada

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada district recorded a low turnout on the first day of Covid-19 vaccination drive on Saturday. While the district administration had planned to vaccinate 600 people from the healthcare sector with Covisheild in six centres across the district, only 229 turned up to get themselves vaccinated till 5pm.
The vaccination drive was conducted at Wenlock Hospital, Surathkal Urban Health Centre and taluk hospitals in Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur and Sullia in Dakshina Kannada, between 9 am to 5 pm.The commencement of the vaccination drive was delayed, since officials had to wait for the national launch of the drive by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vaccination at most centres of the district began after 11 am.
As per the guidelines of the Central government, each centre was supposed to administer vaccines to 100 people from the healthcare sector. However, in all the centres, the turnout of the beneficiaries was less than 50. Dr B V Rajesh, reproductive and child health (RCH) officer, Dakshina Kannada, told TOI, “While 20 people received the vaccine at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, 45 were vaccinated at Surathkal Urban Health Centre, 40 in Bantwal taluk hospital (TH), 35 in Belthangady TH, 45 in Sullia TH and 44 have been administered the vaccine in Puttur TH,” he said.
According to the Dakshina Kannada district administration, out of the 508 people who were expected to be vaccinated, 62 people refused to get vaccinated or were refused vaccination.
Deputy commissioner K V Rajendra said that the vaccination rate was about 45%. “Apprehension on the first day is natural. From Monday, intensive campaigning will be held,” he added.
District health and family welfare officer Dr Ramachandra Bairy said that it was common in all the vaccination drives, to see an initial hiccup, where people hesitate to get themselves vaccinated. “After observing the response from those who have been vaccinated today, and have not reported any side-effects, more people will turn up to get vaccinated from Monday,” he added.
Meanwhile, the refusal was because either some people who registered for the vaccine had health issues, or some of them decided against it at the last minute. Vaccination is about willingness, an official said. It is also learnt that there were certain technical glitches, in the initial hours, especially with the software.
A total 52,381 people have enrolled for the vaccine from the healthcare sector in the district, including 41,247 from Mangaluru taluk, 2,191 from Bantwal, 2,492 from Belthangady, 3,254 from Puttur and 3,197 from Sullia taluk.