Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 09 June 2022
Precautionary dose of COVID-19 Vaccine for those age 18+ was allowed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India starting 10th April 2022 in private vaccination centres across the nation. 18+ Citizens can avail precautionary dose after completing nine months from the administration of the 2nd dose. Andaman and Nicobar Islands has just one Private Vaccination Centre offering Precautionary Dose for those in the age group of 18-60 years.
The rural population of the Islands residing in remote Islands like Great Nicobar, Kamorta, Katchal, Chowra, Teressa, Car Nicobar, Hut Bay, Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep etc. is at a disadvantage because of non-availability of private vaccination centres at the respective Islands.
The residents of North and Middle Andaman District are also facing similar problems due to non-availability of Private Vaccination Centres. Even in South Andaman District Shymala Clinic is the only health institution offering precautionary doses to the residents in the age group of 18-60 years.
Govt. of India is offering a free precautionary dose of COVID-19 Vaccine to 60+ population at Govt. Hospitals and the administration of the precautionary dose of vaccine for 60+ population is proceeding smoothly in the Islands.
Many residents of remote Islands have expressed their concern regarding non-availability of precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccine for the rural population in the Islands as cases are spiking in some states like Maharastra and Kerala.
The residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands actively participated in the vaccination drive and got themselves vaccinated with the first and second doses of COVID-19 Vaccination, but non-availability of the third dose of vaccine for the majority of the Island population is a cause of concern.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands constitutes of remote Islands which do not have advanced health care facilities. Vaccination is the only tool which can reduce the possibility of a large scale outbreak in the remote Islands.
Andaman and Nicobar Administration has managed the COVID-19 situation fairly well than other states and Union Territories. The Administration is continuing to take precautions for the welfare of the residents. A COVID-19 RT-PCR test is still mandatory for travelling to the Islands to Nicobar District as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the infection. These precautions coupled with the precautionary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine would prove to be more effective.
Many residents from different sections of the society have suggested that the Administration should decide to provide universal coverage of precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccination to the eligible population in the Islands, free of cost. While many also sided with the view that the Islanders do not need free vaccines anymore and that the Administration should arrange paid precautionary dose for 18-60 age group through Govt. Hospitals across the Islands.
All the residents from all different parts of the Islands agreed that there is no other alternative than to utilise the Govt. Hospitals in the Islands to administer the precautionary dose of the vaccine for the 18-60 age group.