Mumbai: Maharashtra has completed eight crore vaccinations against Covid-19, mimming almost 62% of the population with at least one dose and more than a quarter with both.
However, experts called for an urgent review of immunization strategies to overcome differences in coverage between districts.
The country gave 8,00,57,994 doses until Tuesday night, covering 5.65crore with at least one shot and 2.35 years with both.
But 23 of the 35 districts were below the average state of 25.6% in complete vaccination.
Nanded and Hingoli at the bottom have provided a double dose at almost 14% population compared to 44% Mumbai and Pune 39%.
With a trip without obstacles now, it can be a threat.
Imnilologist Dr.
Vineeta Bal from India Institute of Education and Research (IISER), Pune said in places where coverage of vaccines and low-positivity, higher outbreak opportunities.
“If someone comes from a district with low coverage and goes to other districts with the same coverage, people will be able to spread infections in a significant population because the big share is open,” he said.
While the third wave may not be large, there may be a local outbreak, say after a marriage or political rally.
Disproportion plays in a single dose immunization too, where 19 districts are far below the country average.
In Nanded, which has the lowest coverage, 38% of the population has got a shot.
In comparison, 89.5% in Mumbai have at least one Jab.
Experts say the state must immediately change its strategy allocating most of the doses to larger districts, especially if seroprevalence is more than 80%.
They say urban bias can have an impact on those who have limited access.
In terms of age, data shows more than 30% 45-plus has not received one shot.
In groups 18-44, almost 50%.
Epidemiologist from JP Muliyil, a member of the National Technical Advisory Group on immunization, said the state should not forget the final purpose of vaccination is to prevent death.
“In younger people, there are three deaths in the population of 10,000, which can be ignored,” he said, calling it to discuss parents or those with comorbidity in Maharashtra, almost 45% of vaccine doses have been given in Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Nagpur.
An official confirmed it by saying the focus was always on vaccination of thick-populated cities, where mobility was higher.
But in Muliyil’s opinion, he was defective to connect vaccinations for RT-PCR positive cases rather than death.
The strategy must also consider the findings of serological surveys, said Bal.
Mumbai’s fifth sero survey found antibodies at 85% of people, which raised the question of whether the center with higher seroprevalence must continue to get more doses, he said.