Pune: The leading virology of Dr.
Gagandeep Kang said the “top down” approach to Covid vaccination coverage without population involvement can encourage a tendency to avoid immunization and produce fake certificates.
“The mandate has always been a boomerang in the long run,” said Dr.
Kang, a professor with Christian Medical College (Vellore).
Batting for community involvement, he said it would only help the health team identify areas where the level of vaccination was low and covered it by involving people in the last mile coverage.
Central health officials were also stated on Friday that health workers would knock every door, check, inspire and motivate people to vaccinate themselves under the program “Har Ghar Dousak”.
“Every individual also has a role and NGO, will help,” said a central health official.
A total of 110 doses of crore vaccines have been given in India so far.
From them, 74 crore is the first dose and 36 crore is the second.
The national aim is to cover everyone who qualifies with a single dose of Covid vaccine on November 30.
Dr.
Subhash Salunkhe, Senior Advisor to the Indian Public Health Federation (PHFI) and members of the National Covid Task Force, told TI that the country had not been in the last miles of vaccination coverage.
“There is still a lot of distance to be borne by complete vaccination in this country.
While cumulative has crossed 108 crores, we need to have more people who are fully vaccinated.
For this, we must make efforts to vaccinate those who are hesitant to take the second dose by using Wise incentives and wherever needed, disincentive, to ensure that the entire population is covered earliest, “he said.
Dr.
Salunkhe also said that community involvement is very important and the right communication strategy must be compiled to ensure that the percentage of vaccination improves in all countries.
Former State Health Director Dr.
PP Doge, also a public health expert, the word persuasion is a key factor to ensure that the maximum recipient is covered earliest.
“Some reluctance has been observed among people, especially for those caused by their second dose.
Some of them have begun to believe that Covid has ended and there is a sense of self,” he said.