The State has seen an unprecedented surge in the number of COVID cases in the past couple of months. The active cases have steadily increased from 218 (23rd Feb, 2021) to around 11,000 in a very short span of time. The surge being observed in the second wave is much higher and steeper than the case progression in the first wave.
In the first wave, the effective preventive measures available against the COVID disease were primarily social distancing, hand hygiene and use of mask, however, in the second wave there is an added weapon against COVID i.e. vaccination. Till date 12.33 lac people have been administered COVID vaccination in the State out of which 1.55 lac have been administered the second dose as well, this was stated by the Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Nipun Jindal.
He further stated that although the pace of vaccination in the State has been good, but recently a dip has been observed in the number of people coming forward for vaccination. Although instructions have been given to the Districts for ramping up of vaccination, it is important for those who are eligible for vaccination to know the potential benefits of the same. The MD, NHM stated that on analysis of age group of the 1223 deaths which have taken place in the State because of COVID, as many as 1109 i.e. more than 90% have occurred in people who are more than 45 years of age. Further, he added that the deaths occurring over the past were evaluated and it was found that only two deaths had occurred despite of the persons being vaccinated with two doses of COVID vaccination, however, in one of these cases the time between second dose of COVID vaccination and death has been four days. Amongst these 101 deaths, 18 persons had received their first dose of COVID vaccine; this directly shows a protective effect of the two doses of COVID vaccination on prevention of mortality due to COVID-19.
The majority of deaths are occurring in more than 45 years of population which at present is eligible under the vaccination programme being run by the government and the directive co-relation between the protection offered by the vaccine in reducing the deaths due to COVID, he made an appeal that all eligible people should come forward for vaccination so that the risk of deaths can be substantially reduced.
