KOLKATA: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Thursday set a record by vaccinating 50,000 citizens across Kolkata — the highest single-day vaccination carried out by the civic body and more than double the previous highest of around 24,000 just a day earlier.
Sources said the figure was a distant dream even a week ago and it could be reached after the inclusion of the 18-plus group in the drive.
Starting with around 5,000 jabs a day when vaccination was opened up for senior citizens and those above 45 years with co-morbidities, it had been increased to 8,000 when the vaccination ambit was increased to everyone above 45 years.
The number had then inched up to 10,000 and stayed at that level till the beginning of May.
Sources said the daily vaccination count increased to 15,000 and then 20,000 once vaccine supply eased.
“Now that the vaccines are easily available, we will further ramp up the vaccination at the clinics,” a KMC health department official said.
The vaccination for the 18-44 category, though, isn’t official and is being carried out by word of mouth at some of the centres.
“The ward coordinators have been helpful in roping in people from their areas,” said a civic official.
Officials said if more vaccines were available to the civic authority, it could increase the numbers further at its 200 vaccination centres in clinics and community halls and aim for 1 lakh jabs a day.
“Right now, we have identified 32 vaccination centres across 16 boroughs where we have started registering members of the 18-plus group.
The number of such centres in each borough will be increased steadily, subject to availability of vaccines.
Once there are more supplies, we will officially announce the inclusion of the 18-plus group,” said a KMC health department official.
Initially, the KMC health department had decided to invite the 18-plus group to register through a chatbot service.
Five centres were opened for them, including Bidhan Sishu Udyan, Roxy Cinema and South City International School.
In Kolkata, around 24 lakh people have received the first dose while around 6 lakh have received both.
In the rest of the state, over 2 crore people have been jabbed till date.
Of this, 1.6 crore have received the first dose and around 45 lakh have received both doses.
While it had taken the state 120 days to reach the 1 crore milestone, the second crore was achieved in 39 days.