Lockdown can’t be ruled out if vaccination target not met, says Nagaland Health minister

Dimapur, Nov. 20 (EMN): Nagaland should achieve Covid-19 vaccination target before Christmas or else the state could be compelled to undergo lockdown again in future, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom reminded district officials on Saturday.

The minister said this during a review meeting with the district officials on Covid-19 vaccination at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, informed an update received here on Saturday.

The meeting was held to find ways to increase inoculation coverage in all districts and on Har Ghar Dastak, a door-to-door vaccination campaign of the Centre.

While thanking the healthcare workers for their hard work and efforts in fighting the pandemic for the last two years, he told the gathering that the review meeting was convened for the safety of the people, saying that the state ranked second highest in fatality rate and lowest in vaccination coverage in the country.

He also encouraged the officers to disclose the problems they faced in their respective districts.

Maintaining that low vaccination coverage in the state is mainly due to the hesitancy caused by misinformation and rumours, the Health minister advised the district officials to seek help of church leaders, NGOs, civil societies and other organisations to boost inoculation.

Principal Secretary Amardeep S Bhatia said in his welcome speech that it is time to go beyond awareness and implement more intensive response. He advised the district officials to co-ordinate with civil organisations, pass resolutions to improve vaccination status and strategise door-to-door campaign with medical officers interacting with the people personally.

Principal Director Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao delivered the vote of thanks and State Immunisation Officer Dr. Ritu Thurr presented the vaccination scenario in Nagaland.