PANAJI: Even because there is a request that foreign nationals in the state must be vaccinated, very few are advanced to utilize the benefits because vaccination is opened for them.
On Wednesday, a total of 19 foreign nationals were vaccinated, while five received their second dose, the Directorate of Health Services Directorate.
From this, 15 people come from South Goa.
“We think many people will come to vaccinate specially in North Goa because it is likely to have more presence of foreign tourists.
We don’t know whether some have been vaccinated based on their Aadhar cards as separate data about them not maintained,” the officer said.
After the announcement by the central government, a week ago the Goa government also stated that it would start vaccination of foreign nationals and those who took the first dose elsewhere, would also be eligible to vaccinate here.
If they have taken Covaxin, they must approach private hospitals for the second dose because the government vaccine site in the country offers covishield.
He said the numbers of South Goa might be more because those who were vaccinated might hold the Portuguese passport.
Dr.
Roshan Nazareth, a health worker at the Candolim Primary Health Center, said they had not seen foreign nationals running in vaccination, lately.
“Maybe, there are no strangers here,” he said.
Since the pandemic broke out international tourists had not yet come to the country.
Those who look are those who live behind and they are spread in the northern and south beach belt.
Arambol and Morjim have some Russians who live, while Bardez has an African citizen.
The coastal belt of Palolem and Agonda also has foreigners who live there.
Not fast, vaccination is discarded for all parts of society, there are questions on social media if they (foreigners) can also be vaccinated here, and what needs to be done.
But now the facility has been available several to come, and it was surprising.
Most inmates and submissions at Colvale Central Jail have been vaccinated.
Some refused to take a shot consult with their respective embassies, said a prison official.