55L doses available, only 10.9L get jabbed in a week

Jaipur: Even though the state has achieved the milestone of fully vaccinating 2 crore people against Covid, the inoculation pace has taken a hit with 10.9 lakh beneficiaries getting jabbed in the past seven days till Saturday afternoon despite the availability of 55 lakh shots.

Out of the 10.9 lakh shots, 8.3 lakh were second doses and 2.6 lakh first. At least 85 lakh people, who have received the first dose, are yet to get the second shot despite being eligible for it. Footfall at the vaccination centres has reduced, which is worrying the health officials. On Saturday, around 1.8 lakh doses were administered at 6,235 sites.
“We are sending texts messages to those who have become eligible for the second dose,” said a health department official, adding the enthusiasm in people has reduced.

They are also urging people to get vaccinated at the Prashasan Gaon Ke Sang and Prashasan Shehron Ke Sang camps. Sources said low turnout has affected the pace and not the vaccine stocks. Officials are attributing the low turnout to crop-cutting and festive seasons. Till Saturday, 66 lakh doses were administered compared to 1.2 crore shots in August and 1.14 crore in September.
There are 5.14 crore eligible (18+ age-group) beneficiaries in the state and 4.25 crore have already received the first dose.

Out of 10.28 crore doses the state needs to fully vaccinate its eligible population, it has so far managed only 6.25 crore doses since the drive began in January.

Health minister Raghu Sharma has urged the people to get their jabs on time.

“More than two crore people received the second dose, but the figure is not sufficient. According to the World Health Organisation, we develop sufficient immunity only after receiving two doses of the vaccine,” the health minister said.