Bhandara tops state in 15-17 group vax coverage, other districts far behind

Nagpur: After doing well in adult Covid vaccination, Bhandara district continues to be at the top of the chart in Maharashtra’s 15-17 age group vaccination too. Having one of the smallest targets of just over 56,000, the east Vidarbha district has achieved 82% first dose coverage in this group. At 80% of the over 38,000 jabbed with first dose in 15-17 group, it is also not far behind in the 12-15 age category.
The percentage gap ranges from 8% to over 40% in the 15-17 group between Bhandara and other districts of the region.Taking elders into confidence and keeping the drive on even during summer vacations helped the district administration come close to completing its target in both groups.
Akola is at the bottom of the table in both groups. In the 15-17 group, except Bhandara and Gondia, no other district from Vidarbha is under 15th rank in the state. Four districts from Nagpur division have done relatively well, staying among the top 15 in the 12-14 group in the state.
Nagpur, which had been able to achieve its target of adult population, couldn’t manage to maintain the tempo in the under 18 vaccination drive. It is at 19th position in the 15-17 group and further down at 32nd rank in the younger group in the state.
Four districts are yet to cross the 50% coverage mark in the 12-14 group, while except Buldhana and Yavatmal all districts are half way through with first jab in the senior group.
Immunization officials blamed court orders, lack of coordination from education department, and rumours for poor vaccination of children. “After courts ruled that unvaccinated citizens can’t be denied entry or social scheme benefits, beneficiaries have got a strong excuse to refuse vaccination. In Nagpur, elders had taken the jab after they were warned in different ways. This is also true for big municipal corporations of the state. Mumbai is at the bottom of the chart,” they said.
They added that compulsory measures for kids too can’t be taken as schools can’t refuse entry to an unvaccinated student in the light of court orders.
Discontent among Asha workers too went against the drive in urban areas. “Unlike Bhandara or Gadchiroli, the Asha workers didn’t work well over payment issues. Bhandara has now a set pattern: right from collector, tehsildar, sarpanch to Asha workers, all are committed to the cause,” they said.
BOX
STATISTICS
15- 17 yrs
as on June 16
district
1st
2n
total
target
Rank
Nagpur
161062
113283
274345
248266
19
Bhandara
49145
41539
90684
56568
1
Gondia
50779
37476
88255
68321
8
wardha
40039
24990
65029
63990
22
Chanda
72856
45695
118551
109453
17
Gad
36987
23074
60061
55522
16
Total
410868
286057
696925
602120
Amravati
83921
57239
141160
149956
31
Akola
46733
27495
74228
95015
35
yavatmal
75531
46869
122400
146485
33
Washim
42982
27164
70146
65140
18
Buldhana
74741
37549
112290
139572
26
Total
323908
196316
520224
596168
Vid
734776
482373
1217149
1198288
12-14 yrs
as on June 16
district
1st
2n
total
target
Rank
Nagpur
69267
27118
96385
160474
32
Bhandara
31122
19500
50622
38504
4
Gondia
44162
34142
78304
44162
8
wardha
29089
11520
40609
41362
15
Chanda
53720
23653
77373
70748
9
Gad
18703
5903
24606
35888
25
Total
246063
121836
367899
391138
Amravati
51297
22649
73946
96929
24
Akola
61416
24841
86257
61416
33
yavatmal
45959
18173
64132
94685
27
Washim
26371
11704
38075
42105
18
Buldhana
42524
11983
54507
90216
28
Total
227567
89350
316917
385351
Vid
473630
211186
684816
776489