Delhi: Fresh Push To Efforts To Cover Those Who Haven’t Taken Second Vax Dose

New Delhi: With the number of Covid-19 cases rising by the day, Delhi government has kicked off an all-out initiative to fully vaccinate the city’s eligible population as soon as possible. From phone calls to house visits daily, efforts are being made to ensure that those whose second dose of the vaccine is due don’t lose even a day in getting inoculated.

“While we have achieved 100% coverage of the first dose of the vaccine, we are trying every measure to ensure that people get their second dose on time,” said a Delhi government official.
The official added, “Omicron may be a mild variant from what we have seen till now, but those who are fully vaccinated will be protected from severe symptoms and hospitalisation. Also, the Delta variant is still around, so everyone needs to get both doses to get full protection.”

Mentioning that there was a large population whose second doses were due and a sizable number whose second dose was now, in fact, overdue, the official said, “We have made district-wise lists with data from the CoWin portal to see which beneficiaries are due for their second dose and who are overdue.”

Every district has set up call centres manned by trained counsellors. “We are now making all-out efforts and every beneficiary who is due for the second dose is being called by these personnel every day till they get vaccinated. Those who are reluctant to get the dose are being counselled about the importance and guided to the nearest vaccination centre,” said the official.
“In case beneficiaries are unable to reach a centre, our mobile teams try to visit their home and get them vaccinated. The majority, however, are coming on their own to get inoculated. We are administering on average 70,000-80,000 second doses every day,” the official said.

Till 7pm on Tuesday, 2,59,22,565 vaccine doses had been administered and first doses had crossed the 1.5 crore mark. However, the total number of eligible beneficiaries according to Delhi’s electoral rolls is 1,48,33,713. Officials said the reason for this was that many people from the NCR had also taken their first dose in Delhi. The number of second doses administered till Tuesday was 1,08,84,768, which meant 73.4% of the total beneficiaries were fully vaccinated.

North West and South West districts had administered over 30 lakh doses, while New Delhi and Shahdara had given more than 18 lakh doses. North East district was close to administering 19 lakh doses.