GUWAHATI: On the 71st birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam inoculated the highest ever 7.86 lakh people with Covid-19 vaccine on a single day.
Central Assam’s Nagaon district vaccinated the highest 43,582 people with the second dose as dedicated call centres communicated with each and every beneficiary in the district where a significant number of minority population was yet to be vaccinated.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday termed the success of the mega vaccination drive a Himalayan feat.
This mega drive primarily focussed on the second jab on the beneficiaries who were vaccinated with the first dose during the last mega vaccination campaign between June 21 and 23. Around 9.75 lakh people in Assam were vaccinated during the previous drive, most of whom were due for their second shot from September 14 onwards.
The drive also facilitated the administration of the first dose to eligible people who turned out in large numbers.
“This Himalayan feat is a true reflection of the motivation and dedication of our PM,” Sarma tweeted on Saturday.

Reports of the mega drive were coming from distant corners of the state till Saturday afternoon. During the update given by the CM in the morning, 7.62 lakh vaccinations covering 3.2 per cent of the eligible population was inoculated on a single day. But by evening, it was nearing the 8 lakh target set.
Overall in the state, 4.58 lakh (4,58,789) beneficiaries received the second dose during the mega drive, whereas 3.27 lakh (3,27,110) people were inoculated with the first jab.
District health teams activated all the Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs) which were functional during the mega vaccination drive in June. Additional CVCs were also created for more coverage. The steps regarding activation of the previous CVCs were initiated to assist the eligible people to get their second doses without any hindrances or confusion. The vaccination drive took place between 8 am and 9 pm on Friday.
“A total of 4,580 CVCs across the state were functional during this mega drive. Of these, 4,562 were government-run, whereas 18 were privately managed. This drive will give a major impetus to vaccination campaigns in the state and we could prove that inoculation can take place at a rapid pace, provided there’s availability of vaccines,” said state nodal officer of Covid-19 vaccination, Munindra Nath Ngatey.
Guardian ministers and secretaries were camping in the respective districts assigned to boost the drive. Six-member teams comprising nursing staff, verifiers, mobilizers and security personnel executed the mammoth task under the supervision of the district administrations.
The highest 43,582 second dose was administered in Nagaon, followed by 40,734 in Cachar and 31,826 in Kamrup (Metro) district. However, in terms of the total number of inoculations, the highest 64,825 vaccinations took place in Cachar, followed by 59,661 in Nagaon and 54,185 in Tinsukia district.
“Administering the second dose was basically the target and we are happy that our concerted effort yielded fruitful results,” said Nagaon DC Kavitha Padmanabhan.
Nagaon had a focussed approach to bring the targeted beneficiaries, 90% of whom were about to receive the second shot during Friday’s drive. “We had dedicated call centres, calling up each and every targeted beneficiary individually. ASHA workers went from door to door requesting people to come to their nearest CVC,” said Padmanabhan.
Despite the common notion that the highest vaccinations have taken place in the minority areas where a significant population remains unvaccinated, the highest inoculation took place in Kathiatoli block PHC area which has a mixed population of ethnic, tribal, minority as well as tea tribes.