District Srinagar, Kishtwar cover just half of target
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Aug 17: In a notable achievement, the Union Territory of J&K has successfully attained an impressive 95 per cent immunization coverage during the first round of the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0, which commenced on August 7 and concluded on August 12.
The campaign aimed to target children under the age of 5 years and pregnant women who had missed their scheduled vaccine doses, or were due for one. Running for a week, the campaign witnessed remarkable coverage across various districts, with some of the districts achieving just half of the target.
According to official data available with Excelsior, the target for the first round encompassed 33,678 children in the 0-5 age group across J&K. Astoundingly, the campaign managed to cover 31,909 of these children, representing an impressive coverage rate of 95 per cent.
Among the districts, Bandipora stood out with the highest coverage, surpassing the set target by recording a coverage rate of 416 per cent. The district had initially aimed to reach 103 children in the 0-5 age group, but the campaign ended up covering 428 children.
However, the districts of Srinagar and Kishtwar experienced lower coverage rates during the campaign, achieving only 53 per cent and 55 per cent of their respective targets. In Srinagar, out of the target of 2,105 children, 1,115 were covered, while in Kishtwar, 1,086 out of the target of 1,970 were immunized during the first round.
Among other districts, Anantnag managed to cover 1,895 out of the set target of 2,872 children. Baramulla achieved a coverage rate of 116 per cent, immunizing 1,372 out of the targeted 1,185 children. Similarly, Budgam reported a coverage rate of 69 per cent, covering 2,179 out of the targeted 3,164 children. Ganderbal surpassed its target with over 100 per cent coverage, reaching 750 out of the targeted 714 children.
Kulgam and Kupwara districts both achieved remarkable coverage rates of 316 per cent and 146 per cent, respectively. Kulgam immunized 1,565 out of the targeted 496 children, while Kupwara managed to cover 1,222 out of the targeted 836 children.
In Pulwama, 83 per cent of the targeted 1,558 children were immunized, totalling 1,293. The Shopian district achieved an impressive coverage rate of 194 per cent, with 608 children being vaccinated out of the targeted 313.
District Jammu also surpassed its target by covering 116 per cent of the children. Out of the targeted 2,831 children, 3,287 were immunized. Udhampur achieved 195 per cent coverage, reaching 1,162 children against the earlier target of 596. The Samba district reported coverage of over 270 per cent, vaccinating 677 children out of the targeted 244.
District Kathua achieved 85 per cent coverage, with 2,302 children out of the targeted 2,724 receiving vaccinations. Doda reported 89 per cent coverage, immunizing 1,721 children out of the target of 1,927.
District Reasi doubled its target, achieving coverage of 215 per cent. The district vaccinated 1,058 children out of the targeted 492. In Ramban, 68 per cent of the targeted 4,889 children were covered, totalling 3,306. Rajouri reported 77 per cent coverage, with 2,326 children immunized out of the targeted 2,999. The Poonch district surpassed its target with 154 per cent coverage, vaccinating 2,557 children out of the targeted 1,660.
While the first round of IMI 5.0 has concluded successfully, subsequent rounds are scheduled for September 11 to 16 (round 2) and October 9 to 14 (round 3) of this year. The initiative is part of a nationwide endeavour to eliminate the Measles-Rubella disease by December 2023.
Officials noted that one of the key features of IMI 5.0 is the digitization of routine immunization activities as part of the Digital India Mission, utilizing the U-WIN platform, enabling tracking of immunization schedules and downloading e-certificates.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
