PUNE: The arrival of the Covid vaccine stock this week has given a major boost to the vaccination of the 45-plus age group in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits, with 115 vaccination sites inoculating these beneficiaries on Friday.
Besides, the stock availability resulted in Pune district crossing 1 lakh vaccination-mark for the first time on Friday.
As per available data, the PMC had vaccinated around 6.62 lakh beneficiaries from the target population of over 9 lakh till Thursday.
Health experts said if the vaccine supply remained steady, the entire target population of 45-plus could be vaccinated within the next 30 days in the PMC limits.
According to the CoWin dashboard, the district had recorded vaccination of 1.37 lakh people on Friday across its 700 sites (government and private).
The earlier highest single day vaccination figure was around 85,000 on April 5.
A PMC official said now that many more beneficiaries, who got their first Covishield jab earlier in March and April, are getting eligible, the civic body was making sure their second jab experience remained hassle-free.
“We have increased the number of vaccination sites for the 45-plus age group, so that the first and second dose beneficiaries could get inoculated at the earliest,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner Rajesh Patil said they were also focussing on the 45-plus vaccination, especially for the residents of slum and underprivileged groups.
“We are arranging the manpower and the specialised vaccination drives will be started soon,” he said, adding that until they begin with the specialised drives, they are giving a boost to the 18-44 age group vaccination drive.
On Saturday’s coverage, the PMC will offer the shots from 189 designated Covid vaccination centres, stated a PMC press statement.
It said the inoculation drive for the 45-plus category would be conducted across 116 centres, while the 18-44 age group drive would be conducted across 57 centres.
For Covaxin, around 16 centres will offer the second dose.
In the PCMC limits, 47 vaccination sites will offer Covishield doses for the 18-44 group.
The PCMC in a press statement said 90% of the doses will be available for walk-ins and 10% will be available via CoWin app booking.