100% of eligible populace in Vijayapura district fully vaccinated

Vijayapura: Most of the districts in Karnataka limped along the way to reach the 100% target in administering the first dose of the vaccination to all those eligible to receive it. However, Vijayapura has managed to achieve the feat of administering both doses of the vaccine to the entirety of the eligible demographic – the only district in North Karnataka to do so.
Vijayapura deputy commissioner P Sunil Kumar recalled starting the vaccination drive in the district on January 16, 2021.“Initially, there was some resistance from the people to receive the jab. Most people did not want to take the vaccination owing to their misconceptions about it. But we held awareness campaigns and succeeded in helping people overcome their reservations about taking the jab, particularly those in the villages and tribal hamlets,” the DC said.
The DC said that the district administration had to fully vaccinate 16,34,000 people across the district. “We not only achieved our target, but overshot it, administering the first dose to 17,57,438 people – 104% coverage,” Kumar said.
Expressing gratitude to the assistance offered by various NGOs and associations, Kumar added, “Workers from the district health department, ASHA workers, zilla panchayat, were involved in the drive, and this success belongs to all of them.”
The DC is proud of Vijayapura earning the tag of being only the second district in Karnataka to have achieved the feat of fully vaccinating the eligible populace. “Thus far, we have fully vaccinated 16,34,000 people. But we will continue to administer the second dose to those who have not received it yet,” Kumar said.
He also noted the cooperation of the people in helping the district achieve its target. “They volunteered to get the jab when it was their turn, and this helped the district administration reach its goal as fast as we have,” the DC said.
That most other districts in North Karnataka are still lagging behind, with most of them having managed to fully vaccinate only 70 to 80% of the eligible populace, only sets Vijayapura’s achievement in stark relief.