Misleading, confusing press release from State Health Mission – what is the motive behind it?

IT Desk
May 17 was the day that covid-19 vaccination for the age group 18 plus to 44 years started in the state of Manipur. The total number of people in this age group, who were vaccinated the first dose was 84,095 and the number of people who got the second dose vaccine was reported 3 as of June 11.
As per recommendation by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid019 (NEGVAC), the schedule of Covishield vaccine under the National Covid -19 vaccination Strategy is to administer the 2nd dose at 12 -16 weeks interval, that is 84 days, after the administration of the 2nd dose.
The time interval between the first dose vaccination and the 2nd dose vaccination has been shortened to 28 days for people seeking international travel for education purposes or employment opportunities or India’s contingents for Tokyo Olympic games by a special SOPs issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
All things and preparation seem going in the right direction until a press release issued by the State Mission Director, Dr. N. Shyamjai Singh, that was published as a paid advertisement at some selected newspapers in connection with the appeal to people above 18 years of age, who already received the first dose, to get second dose vaccination at the earliest at the designated Covid -19 Vaccination Center (CVC). The motive behind the release of the press release by the Director NHM is not clear as for general people the time interval for 1st dose vaccination and the 2nd dose vaccination make no change under this special SOP of the Union MoHFW. As per the SOPs for the vaccination, it is mention that at least there should be 84 days time interval between 1st dose and the 2nd dose.
To be precise, it has been only around 25 days that the vaccination programme for the age group 18 years to 44 years has started.
A question that, Imphal Times want to asked the State Health Society NHM , Manipur government is – why the press release appealing people above 18 years to get vaccinated at the earliest possible time at this time when there are no eligible persons who get first dose vaccination to get the second dose as they are told to be vaccinated only after 84 days.
Even for the special SOPs – it was clearly stated that those who get the 1st dose should at least have a time interval of 28 days. As per yesterday’s report, a total number of 3 people (maybe those belonging to the special category) got 2nd dose vaccination. Is it because that the so-called experts of the State Health Society are more expert to judge the efficacy of the vaccine.
The Press release by Dr. N. Shyamjai Singh , published through some selected newspaper is nothing but a clear indication of being unaware or perhaps lack of understanding of the vaccination programme. No matter the State health Mission has not tabled in policy programme for the ongoing vaccination programme.
This paper has already mentioned that the number of people between the age group 18 plus to 44 years who got the first dose jab was 84,094 and 3 another got 2nd doses in 25 days. To remind the department, the total population in this age group in the state of Manipur is 14,29,503, as per the 2011 census record. There is a rise of 24% population rise in 10 years when gone through the Census date from 2001 to 2011. Naturally, the number estimated based on the 2011 census report should have been much lower as the year today is 2021.
The vaccination of 84,094 out of the 14,29,503 people is not a satisfying report when compared to a better state like Tripura.
Instead of calling on the people of this age group to get the first dose vaccination at the earliest, how could a responsible State Mission Director appealed to people to get 2nd dose whose time interval has not yet attained. Seems like, the department is having a surplus amount of money to spend and they simply wasted it with a confusing press release published through paid advertisement at mass media.
As per the literature of the Covishield vaccine, which has been used in the state of Manipur , the percentage of the vaccine efficacy of 6-week interval between the 1st dose and the 2nd dose is 53.28%. The time interval between 6 to 8 week of the 1st and 2nd dose is stated as 51.08 %. From 9 to 11 weeks interval the efficacy is stated as 60.55% and above 12 weeks time interval the efficacy of the vaccine is stated to be 78.79%.
It’s wartime, the Chief Minister of Manipur is spending sleepless night preparing and inspecting works for the protection of the people from the Covid-19 pandemic. When the Chief Minister is tirelessly working for society, why some so-called expert make mistake and mislead the people?
Money spends for misleading or confusing advertisement in the media should be retrieved from the official who issued the order, as it may amount to tantamount the image of the Government of Manipur leading the fight against Coronavirus.