COVID vaccination in Goa: State govt targets booster inoculation of 10.5 lac people

After administering its entire 18 year old and more population with both the COVID-19 doses, the Goa Health Department has now set a target to inoculate 10.5 lac eligible people with precautionary doses by September 30.

Goa announced the booster dose inoculation in May 2022 under the Tika Utsav campaign. Reportedly, so far, only 79,655 eligible 18-plus people have been administered with the booster dose.

As per the official announcement, the booster dose vaccination drive will include various measures to achieve the target.

One of this is constant monitoring of the vaccination drive by the Health Ministry and several campaigns to make people aware of the benefits of the booster dose. The authorities will also set up camps and temporary vaccination centres.

The state Health Department data shows that a total of 33,772 people belong to the 18-59 age group, and 45,883 people of 60 or more age have been administered with the booster dose.

While urging people to take necessary steps by following the COVID appropriate behaviour, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, "As the COVID positivity rate has come down, people have taken it easy. But we need to take precautions. We don't know when and how these things (COVID) will behave."

Reportedly, organisations like the Women and Child Department and other concerned departments will be taken under the wing to organize vaccination camps.