42% health workers in Chandigarh still not fully vaccinated

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 16

Nearly five months after a nationwide inoculation drive was started for them in mid-January, at least 42 per cent healthcare workers (HCWs) are still not fully vaccinated in Chandigarh as they have failed to take the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

A total of 70.2 per cent of the total registered HCWs have taken their first dose.

Similarly, many frontline workers (FLWs), who were among the first to be prioritised by the government in the first phase of vaccination, have failed to take their second dose. Around 37 per cent of this priority group has not taken the second dose, while 75.6 per cent FLWs have taken their first dose.

While the national average of the first dose administration among HCWs is 82 per cent, the national average of the second dose among them is only 56 per cent. For FLWs, the national average of the first dose coverage is 85 per cent, but the national average of the second dose coverage for FLWs is only 47 per cent.

The vaccination for healthcare workers started on January 16 and for the FLWs, the drive started on February 2. The gap between two doses during this period was 28 days.

The Union Health Secretary highlighted the low vaccination coverage among the HCWs and FLWs, especially regarding the second dose, terming it a cause for concern.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today asked states and UTs to prepare effective plans for expediting the second dose administration for the HCWs and FLWs. The states have been asked to dedicate special time slots or sessions for the exercise.

Dr Amandeep Kaur Kang, Director, Health Services, UT, said, “Many healthcare workers who received the first dose may have got their second dose in the open category and not the HCW category. The data needs to be studied minutely to identify who all have not received the second dose.”

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