29 lakh senior citizens yet to get second dose of Covid vaccination in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Covid vaccination drive that got off to a flying start among people above 60 years has been hit due to shortage of doses. While over 96% of the elderly population in the state received the first dose, just 55% turned up for the second.

Almost 40% of the elderly population that received the first dose has missed out on the second, which is a cause of concern.

A health department official said, “The health minister has already raised the issue with the Centre. He had demanded 2 crore doses from the Centre for August against an allocation of 54 lakh doses. Around 80 lakh people people had become eligible for second dose in August.”

Out of 68.33 lakh elderly population in the state, 65.64 lakh received the first dose, which was 96.1% of the eligible or targeted elderly population for vaccination. But, only 35.84 lakh elderly population has received the second dose, which is just 54.6% of the elderly population who received the first dose. Still more than 29.79 lakh are yet to receive the second dose.

“In Jaipur, we vaccinated more than 44 lakh people. Out of them, 32 lakh are first doses and 12 lakh second. Vaccination of elderly population with second dose remained affected due to irregular supply of vaccine. Also, a large number of people who have not received the first dose are reaching the vaccination centres in increased numbers. Now, we are encouraging those whose are due for second dose,” said Dr Narrrottam Sharma, chief medical healthofficer (Jaipur -I).

The vaccination for above 60 population started on March 1. Till May 31, as many as 53.55 lakh elderly population was vaccinated with first dose and 16.63 lakh of those had received the second dose. If three months’ gap between the first and second dose is maintained, 53.55 lakh above 60 population have become eligible for the second dose till August 31. But, out of those, 35.84 lakh have received the second dose, while 17.71 lakh are yet to receive it.