Jharkhand on Monday achieved less than 50 per cent of its vaccination target for the first time since the launch of the nationwide vaccination programme against Covid-19 virus on January 16, figures shared by the National Health Mission (NHM) revealed, further highlighting that more than 8600 of the 15,761 beneficiaries registered for inoculation on the day did not turn up at the various vaccination centres across the State.

As per figures compiled by the NHM, only 7158 of the 15,761 people registered for vaccination were inoculated on Monday. The state achieved only 45 per cent of its vaccination target on the day. The State has so far achieved 55 per cent of its vaccination target.

Meanwhile, at least 17 of 24 districts in Jharkhand did not report fresh cases of Covid-19 infection on Monday, while 42 people were found infected in the remaining seven districts, figures compiled by the health department highlighted.

Ranchi reported 19 cases, while East Singhbhum and Bokaro reported 10 and five cases respectively. As many as 81 Covid recoveries on the day brought the count of active cases down to 513 by the end of Monday. However, one more Covid patient, a resident of Ranchi, died during treatment, taking the Covid toll up at 1073 in Jharkhand and that in Ranchi to 236, highlighted government data.

As per government data, at least 259 people were battling the viral infection in Ranchi, while the count of active cases was below 100 in all the remaining 23 districts. So far, 118734 people have been infected by the virus and more than 98 per cent of them have recovered.

During the vaccination drive, at least 1153 people were inoculated in Ranchi on Monday, the highest among all the districts in Jharkhand. While Ranchi achieved 65 per cent of its target on the day, East Singbhum achieved only 47 per cent of its target by inoculating 431 of the 920 registered beneficiaries. Only 50 of the 400 beneficiaries registered for vaccination in Sahebganj got the Covishield shots.

Only two cases of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) were reported in Jharkhand on Monday – one each in Lohardaga and Khunti. So far, the state has reported 226 AEFI cases, and none of them were severe, said doctors spearheading the vaccination programme in Jharkhand.

“Most of the people suffering from adverse effects following immunization have mild symptoms. No severe case has come to my notice so far,” said Dr. Ajit Prasad, the in-charge of immunization programme in the state.

So far, health workers in Jharkhand have administered Covishield shots to as many as 48,013 of the 86,946 people registered for vaccination in the state. By inoculating 3654 of 5293 registered beneficiaries, Palamu has achieved 76 per cent of its vaccination target – the highest among all the 24 districts in the State. Ranchi, on the other hand, has only achieved 48 per cent of its target, while Pakur has achieved 41 per cent of its target – the lowest among the districts in Jharkhand.

Ranchi has reported the highest number of AEFI cases so far. As per government data, at least 159 of the 226 AEFI cases were reported in Ranchi. East Singhbhum has reported three AEFI cases, while Dhanbad has reported 10. Bokaro, Deoghar, Giridih and Garhwa have not reported any AEFI cases so far.