Mumbai: Lakh people in Maharashtra have delayed or skipped the second shot of Covid vaccines despite fulfilling the requirements in October because the festival had been established and the second wave seemed to react.
The state government has revealed that 70 lakh people have not taken second jab even though completing the interval between doses.
In Mumbai, around 4.6 lakh people are expected to be late for the second shot.
Dr.
V K Paul, Head of Covid India’s assignment, recently expressed concern that more than 10 Indian crore was because the second dose they had not taken it.
While nearly 56 lakh people still took their second Covishield shots and 14 lakh covaxin in the state, the numbers suitable for the city were 3.7 lakh and 81,383.
The second dose doubt: ‘The decline in cases has taken fear, the state government has revealed that 70 lakh people have not taken their second jab.
Experts recommend completion of two doses to realize the full benefit of vaccination against the coronavirus.
There was a minimum gap of 84 days between two covishield shots and 28 days between Covaxin shots.
Dr.
Sachin Desai, head of the immunization of the state, said the festival and heavy rainfall in several parts Marathwada had slowed vaccination since early October.
“The district has been asked to encourage their second dose coverage.
We tried to bring it back to the track,” he said, adding the country to sit in almost 70 doses and the lakh supply was not a problem at all.
The average daily vaccination in Maharashtra fell 30% in October – from an average of 7.6 lakh doses given every day in September, it has dropped to 5.3 lakh in October.
The state tries to increase numbers through a special drive called Mission Kawach Kundal which was originally carried out between 8 and 14 October.
While the target is to give a dose of crore on the seven days, only 50% can be achieved.
Desai said they had now completed more than 1.2 doses of crore under the campaign.
In addition, the country has started Yuwa Swasthya to vaccinate students.
Maharashtra has provided 9.6 doses of crore, fully vaccinating more than 3 crore people (33%).
Other 3.6 Crore people have taken the first dose, including 70 lakhs qualified to receive their second dose but have not taken it yet.
As many as 21 districts are below the country average when it comes to full vaccination.
Dr.
Mangala Gomare, executive health worker, said there was a decline seen in vaccination speed.
“People must understand that vaccination with both shots is important to reduce death.
Death and infection have been ignored in people who are fully vaccinated,” he said.
The latest BMC data shows that approximately 28,000 people become covid though partially or fully vaccinated in the city.
Of those who have taken both shots, only 0.26% have Covid.
District officials told Ti field staff they had seen reluctance to people to vaccinate in the middle of the festival.
More resistance in urban slums, said Hingoli District Health Officer Dr.
Shivaji Pawar.
“The decline in cases has also relieved fear of hospitalization or death,” he said.
“Many not know our community health workers, they will take a second shot after Diwali,” said an official from Nanded.
Desai said the list of booth-wise elections had been prepared in the districts where the second dose coverage was low and many were late.
Certain places have also conducted local surveys to measure numbers.
The district has been told to make calls and home visits.
“We estimate there might be doubts in 5-10% of the population to take vaccines at all.
After the vaccination they are willing to have finished, we will also overcome the aspects of doubt,” he said.