Dehradun: Around 1717 people, including 1018 Tibetans in 18-44 age group across Dehradun and Distt Sirmour and 699 local Indians of the community, received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in a mass inoculation drive sponsored by Sakya Dolma Phodrang.
The drive was held from 15 – 19 June, covering Tibetans in Dekyiling, Gepheling, Tsering Dhodenling, Dhondupling, Rajpur, Mussorie, Kham Lingtsang, Raptenling, Tibetan Homes School in Gori Marfi, Distt Sirmour, Herbertpur and local Indians residing around these settlements.
“It is Kyabgon Sakya Trichen Rinpoche’s sincere wish to see all the members of our community vaccinated at the earliest possible so that they could all be safe and healthy,” said Dagmo Kalden Kushok via a Facebook post.
“The drive was a result of many people and the coordination of many departments, mainly the Dekyiling Settlement Office and the Dekyiling Health Center. Kungo (Col.) Tsering Norbu la and the medical staff have truly been indispensable and dedicated throughout the process.”
As part of the policy commitment to inoculate the entire Tibetan population in India and Nepal, Sikyong Penpa Tsering on 8 June directed all the settlement offices to expedite the vaccination drive in the respective settlements.
Accordingly, the Tibetan settlement office in Dehradun, led by its Settlement Officer (Retd) Lt Col Norbu, approached the Offices of District Magistrate and CMO (Chief Medical Officer) to discuss vaccine roll out and other assistance required in the Tibetan settlements across Dehradun and Distt Sirmour (H.P). Both the DM and CMO assured their full support.
On 14 June, a virtual meeting was held between Sakya Dagmo Kalden and Dekyiling’s Covid-19 Task Force Committee to discuss vaccines’ procurement. It was then decided that a medical team of Synergy Hospital in Dehradun would administer the vaccines.
As of 21 June, around 1717 Tibetans and Indians have received their first jab against Covid.