As Covid-19 vaccine drive goes on at slow speed in MP, fear of 50L jab expiry looms

Bhopal: Though Corbevax vaccine has received nod for being used as booster dose, adequate number of other vaccines are available with the state, officials said.

To increase the use of precaution doses among 60-plus population and to speed up consumption of vaccines as majority stock's expiry date will start from August, health department has started a door-to-door vaccination campaign for senior citizens on June 1.

Sources from the health department said that apart from the door-to-door campaign that has been started, the teams will also undertake a mega drive as in the past to ensure that vaccine stock is cleared on time.

Overall there are around 50 lakh doses of vaccines that are available with the state and of these a major chunk of vaccine, i.e., will start expiring from the month of August onwards.

Only 23 percent of the elderly who have received both the doses of vaccine, have taken precaution dose so far, and in case of vaccination of 15 to 17 year old, 88 percent have received the first dose and 33 % have received the second dose, but major area of focus are elderly and for the purpose of vaccination a door to door campaign has been initiated.

Issuing an appeal, state vaccination officer, Dr Santosh Shukla said, "For facilitating vaccination, '2.0 har ghar dastak abhiyaan' has been started in the state. I appeal everyone to help their family members, all those elderly should be vaccinated with precaution doses, every citizen aged above 18 years who have taken first dose but are still to take second dose should also get vaccinated.

Teenagers aged between 15-17 years whose 80% have taken first dose, and 60% have taken second dose, thus approximately 40% are still left they should also get vaccinated. The kids aged between 12 and 15 years whose schools have closed should also be vaccinated".