Covid-19: Month on, 59% of those due for 3rd dose covered in Karnataka

BENGALURU: A month after the Centre started providing precautionary Covid-19 vaccine dose to senior citizens and healthcare and frontline workers, Karnataka has vaccinated 59% of the target population as on February 11 morning. Across the country, administration of the third shot began on January 10.


The target changes every day, going by the number of eligible persons who have completed nine months since they took their second dose. As on February 11, over 16.5 lakh were due for the precautionary dose, of which over 9.7 lakh, or 59% have taken it. On Thursday, a total of 17,467 persons took the third dose across the state.



As per data with the health and family welfare department, the coverage in 17 districts is above the state average. In Bengaluru Urban district, inclusive of BBMP, the coverage so far has been 56%.

Not all eligible senior citizens are coming forward to take the precautionary dose, according to officials. One of them said decline in Covid cases is one of the reasons. “Many people had mild symptoms like cough, cold and fever during the third wave and not all got tested for Covid. The mild nature of the third wave has made many think that a booster dose is not required, despite the government’s efforts to educate citizens. Awareness activities are needed,” the officer said.

According to Dr Arundhathi Chandrashekar, mission director, National Health Mission, Karnataka, many healthcare and frontline workers have been infected in the third wave and will not be eligible for precautionary dose till they complete three months from the time they tested positive.

Ditto with several senior citizens who turned Covid positive in the last three months and are not yet eligible to avail the precautionary dose.

No second-dose cert an issue

Dr Chandrasekhar added the other challenges include absence of second-dose certificate. “If the second-dose certificate doesn’t reflect on the CoWin portal, such persons are not eligible for the precautionary dose. We are trying to merge certificates, but it is a laborious process,” she said.

Dr AS Balasundar, chief health officer, BBMP, said many who had taken the second dose of Covishield without waiting for the mandatory 84-day period do not have the second-dose certificate. “There are many people who registered through a different phone number when they took the second dose and have received the first-dose certificate. When we check they say they have taken the second dose, but there is no documentary proof,” he said.