Overhaul COVID-19 vaccination campaign

Veroli Zhimo

Announcing the extension of the COVID-19 induced state-wide lockdown on Wednesday, the government spokesperson said the situation is improving but the state is still not out of the woods. “The positivity rate is declining but it needs to go down below five percent. Also, we need to inoculate more than 50 per cent of the population,” the spokesperson said.
The lockdown restrictions which began on May 14, has proven effectual in bring the daily positivity rate from 24.66 percent at the time, to 7.35 percent on June 15. Hopefully, the declining trend will continue.

In terms of vaccination, only about 18 percent of the populace or 3,72,614 people (calculated on basis of Census 2011) have been inoculated since the launch of vaccines in the state on January 16. Out of this, only 52,596 have received both doses while 3,20,018 have received the first dose, as per data on the national CoWIN Dashboard. Out of the total, at least 45 percent of the total vaccinations have been attributed to the 18-44 age group, 26.38 percent to those in the 45-60 age group and 14.3 percent to those above the age of 60 years.

According to these figures, it would seem that vaccine hesitancy, especially among the elderly who are also most vulnerable, continue to prevail in most parts of the state while those in the 18-44 age group seem more inclined to be vaccinated.

The 18-44 age group is the active group that wants to break free of the virus because they miss their social life and want to get back to their ‘normal’ schedules. This group is disinclined to be influenced by religion or superstition and are most likely to be better informed because they get their information from multiple sources. On the contrary, the elders often fall prey to conspiracy theories, made worse by religious and superstitious misgivings.

As evident from the government’s announcement, unless the majority of Nagaland’s population gets vaccinated our chances of returning to normal will recede. People will continue to be infected and die even as the economy shrinks to breaking point. Even now there is much commotion that the lockdown should be lifted since people are facing a money crunch by remaining at home and not being allowed to work.

But for this to happen, the government needs to pull its socks up and re-strategize its vaccination campaign, possibly by involving prominent public figures, churches, tribal organisations and student organisations, among others. 

Messaging and publications in various local languages should also be introduced, especially in rural areas. This is also the time when local MLAs should be out campaigning in their constituencies to ensure all their constituents are vaccinated. Considering the technological gaps in rural and peri-urban areas, the government should also consider promoting ‘walk-in’ vaccinations where on-site registration and vaccination can be done in the same visit.

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