50 percent people in Madhes State take full dose vaccines

JANAKPUR: JAN. 20 – Fifty per cent of the people have taken full dose (second dose) vaccine against COVID-19 in Madhesh State.

The vaccination rate has increased by around 12 per cent in the districts of the State in the last two weeks’ period alone, the State Health Directorate stated. The rate of people coming for vaccination has increased of late due to the increase in the infection graph, publicity of vaccination and the active role played in this by the local people’s representatives and the health workers.

Only 38 per cent of the people above 18 years of age had been vaccinated with the second dose as of Jan 9. The percentage of people taking the full doses of vaccines has increased and reached nearly 50 per cent in the period of the last two weeks, Directorate’s Director Bijaya Jha said.

According to Jha, the percentage of people receiving full dose vaccines is 63.3 in Sarlahi, 52.6 in Dhanusha, 53.6 in Bara, 51.1 in Parsa, 47.7 in Saptari, 46.8 in Siraha, 39.6 in Rautahat and 36.6 in Mahottari district.

Similarly, approximately 59 percent population above 18 years of age in the State has taken the single-dose vaccine. The percentage of the population taking the single-dose vaccine is 75 in Sarlahi, 70 in Bara, 65 in Parsa, 63 in Siraha, 69 in Mahottari, 64 in Dhanusha, 61 in Saptari and 45 in Rautahat.

Looking at the age, the percentage of people taking vaccination is higher for the people of the 12 years to 17 years age as compared to the people of the above 18 years of age. Director Jha said nearly 62.2 per cent of the people of 12 years to 17 years age group has got the jabs in Madhesh State.

“This percentage is third in terms of State-wise percentage of the vaccinated population. From this aspect, we have become the province with the third-highest number of children vaccinated,” he said, adding that continuous efforts are on to expand the vaccination coverage.

The government had the target of vaccinating 66 per cent of the country’s population until Jan 14. Although this target could not be fulfilled in Madhesh State, the percentage of people vaccinated has increased compared to the past.

-RSS