Of 35 lakh jabbed in Ludhiana, just 11 lakh women

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 19

In Ludhiana, less number of women has been vaccinated against Covid as compared to men.

There is a 50 per cent gap in the gender ratio of those who have got themselves inoculated to date. According to the data shared by the Health Department, 35 lakh people have been vaccinated of which 24 lakh are males and only 11 lakh are females.

Besides, there are 5.5 lakh people in Ludhiana who have skipped their due date for the second dose and there are still 3.5 lakh people left who have not received even a single dose till now.

Despite repeated reminders being sent through SMS by the Health Department, they have not turned up for their second dose. The district administration and the Health Department now plan to cover this population under ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign. Around 80 per cent of this population has crossed 100 days since their first dose.

Dr Puneet Juneja, nodal officer for Covid vaccination drive in Ludhiana district, said that dependency was the major factor responsible for a smaller number of females coming forward for vaccination. In addition, rumoured side-effects, lack of support and lack of knowledge about the vaccine were other factors responsible for the gap, the nodal officer said.

“They generally wait for someone else to take them to the vaccination centre for inoculation. Women who run the house should not wait but go out and get jabbed,” he said.

Under the campaign, field teams will be visiting people’s doorstep. They will also be calling up people and motivating them to get vaccinated.