BAJURA, MARCH 27

Hundred-and-fifteen-year-old Goite Rokaya received the first jab of COVID-19 vaccine at Manakot of Gaumul Rural Municipality, Bajura.

After Rokaya received the first shot at Manakot Health Post, he looked elated. 'I am happy to have received the vaccine. I have not experienced any side effects yet,' said Rokaya. Health worker Laxmi Bohora at the health post said that Rokaya was happy after he was vaccinated against COVID. According to Rokaya's relative, his actual age is 115, but the age on his citizenship certificate shows 105.

After the government launched the drive to vaccinate people above the age of 55, elderly people are excited in the district.

Dhansingh Rokaya, 86, of Sateda Gaumul reached Ghatmuna Community Health Centre to receive the first shot against the virus. He had walked an hour to get vaccinated.

'Elderly people, who are receiving the COVID vaccine, look very happy,' said staffer Manisha Thapa at the community health centre.

The vaccination drive against COVID had started in Bajura on 28 January. A total of 13,704 people received the first dose of the vaccine till Friday, said Health Officer Bajura Chief Daya Krishna Pant.

In the first and second phases, frontline workers, including health workers, security personnel deployed to manage the bodies of the people who died due to COVID, people's representatives and government employees were vaccinated.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 28, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.