Even as Odisha has delivered the first dose to over 3.2 crore people in the State, it is still falling behind the national average. It seems the time is right to step up the gears as the neighbouring states have overtaken the national average in vaccinating their population.
As per the data available with Union Health Ministry, the nation as of Feb 10, 2022, has administered the first jab to around 90.23 crore or 96 per cent of the eligible persons. Neighbours like Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have vaccinated 100 percent and 99 percent of their eligible population as of date.
The encouraging fact, however, is Odisha has scored a rate higher than the national average in the immunisation drive in the age group of 15-17 years. As per the data available, Odisha has delivered the first dose to around 16.5 lakh, which is around 69 percent of the targeted population.
But the pace is not visible in the second dose in the State. As of Feb 9, 2022, a total of over 2.9 lakh or nearly 12 percent of the targeted population in the 15-17 yrs age group had taken the full dose.
On the contrary, the southern neighbour has fully inoculated 37 percent of the targeted population in the age group of 15-17 years; whereas the western neighbour Chhattisgarh has fully immunised 23 percent of its targeted population in the age group.
Half-Scorers In Odisha
As per the data available with the State Health Department, only 78 percent of the total population has received full two doses to date. The national average is also 78 percent.
A look at the district-wise data shows as many as 13 districts in State have more than half of the population not fully vaccinated. The districts are Gajapati, Balangir, Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Bargarh, Nuapada and Deogarh.
The Performers
The list has been topped by Khordha where around 77 percent of the population have been fully vaccinated. it is followed by Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Sonepur and Ganjam.
The Bottomline
A look at the above performers and half scorers shows that some of the hotspot districts like Sundargarh and Cuttack are still trailing by yards in the vaccination rate, which doesn't augur well in the fight against the Covid-19 virus.
Andhra Pradesh emerges as an outperformer given the state has a very impressive score cared of 100 percent first dose vaccination and fully immunised proportion stands at 85 percent.