Rajasthan: Four panchayats in Pratapgarh attain 100% vaccination target

JAIPUR: Four gram panchayats in Pratapgarh–Kesunda, Jaloda Jagir, Basedi and Gamena—is leading with an example by attaining 100% vaccinations for the 18 and above age group while countering the vaccine hesitancy.
All four GPs has 12,274 persons above the age of 18 plus as per the district figure. Of the total, 11,465 persons have been vaccinated by June 9. The remaining 508 persons are left out due to valid reasons listed in the rules.
It wasn’t easy for the district which had faced severe opposition to the vaccination drive in the rural areas.Till June, several vaccination camps in rural areas have had under 10 vaccinations. The local administration has held a special drive from reaching out to elected representatives and influencers to make this feat possible.
Pratapgarh collector Renu Jaipal said, “Initially, it was a challenge, but we designed several tailor-made initiatives derived from the state rules which has motivated the rural vaccination drive.”

Jaipal has followed the pattern of the election voter list and carried out a survey in villages to figure out how many persons above the age of 18 are available.
“The data has given the exact picture of how many beneficiaries are available for vaccines and in what all means of livelihood they are engaged. One thing was clear that flexibility of time is key in achieving any target. The camps at several places ran for 18 hours a day allowing the beneficiaries to vaccinate according to their convenient time,” said Jaipal.
Once the vaccination is done, the team took the follow up of the villagers to cross-check if anyone eligible is not left behind. Thereafter the villages are declared vaccinated at least one to every resident. The administration is promoting these villages as a role models before other villages and gram panchayats to motivate them for vaccination.