Municipal officials say that due to the festive season, those taking the second shot have also stayed away.
Hesitating the second vaccine is emerging as a trend across the country—about 16 crore doses were available with states and union territories on Saturday—while 7 crore were yet to take it due to their second shot.
During the Diwali week ending November 5, only 2.42 crore doses were administered in the country, which is almost 50% of the over 40 million doses given during October 23-29.
Meanwhile, the total vaccination has crossed 108 crore doses.
‘Second shot conversion of Kovid vaccine better in urban areas’
Experts are not sure whether the drop in vaccination is just because of the festive season or a result of lack of awareness in non-metro areas. Professor Sachin Pandey, Gandhinagar, who maintains the vaccination, said, “The polio campaign was very specific about two drops and polio Sunday, but there is no direct message that covid vaccination requires two shots. We are only aware of the availability of covid vaccination. Hear a general message about.” The data on their website https://covidtikaherokuapp.com, said.
Pandey said the second dose conversion (the ratio between the number of people fully vaccinated and the number of people vaccinated with the first dose) is poor in 21 states and union territories.
While the all-India ratio is 0.826, the corresponding figure Maharashtra is at 0.883.
However, Pandey said a closer look at the district-wise data reveals that the second shot conversion is better in urban centres. For example, the ratio in Mumbai and Delhi is 0.937 and 0.927 respectively. “However, in Noida, which also includes some rural areas, the conversion is 0.694,” he said.
He added, “Looking at the city-wise data and comparing it with the state as a whole, it appears that the conversion of second dose is less in rural areas. These areas will do better with awareness on the need for second dose.”
However, in Mumbai, where first dose vaccination is close to 99% and full two dose vaccination is 61%, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials are struggling to promote the latter.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said, “We are calling people, we are surveying residential colonies and slums to find out those who have delayed their second dose, and hence we have provided mobile centers ”
Kakani expects vaccinations to accelerate after the Diwali festival is over. BMC had stopped vaccination for four days due to low turnout during Diwali; Vaccination in public centers will resume on Monday.
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