Few takers for 2nd jab in Mohali

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 26

In a major concern for the Health Department officials here a large number of people are delaying the second dose of the Covid vaccine.

Out of the total 7.36 lakh people who have received the first dose of the vaccine, only 1.38 lakh have got the second dose till date.

Civil Surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur and District Nodal Officer for Covid vaccination Dr Vikrant Nagra said the people taking the second dose of vaccine are late by 12 to 145 days, which is a “matter of grave concern”.

If people had got the second dose in time, about 50 per cent of the population would have been fully vaccinated by now, they said. Pertinently, about 18,000 beneficiaries are such who are over 60 years of age and have not yet received their second dose.

Dr Kaur though expressed her satisfaction at the speed of immunisation.

It is the result of concerted efforts of the entire staff of the Health Department and the district administration that 99 per cent of the population in the district has been vaccinated, she said.

Dr Kaur said a total of 95.21 per cent of people in the district had been vaccinated under the ongoing vaccination campaign, out of which 30.96 per cent had been fully vaccinated.

She said the total above 18 year population in the district is 7,72,826, out of which 7,35,772 people have been vaccinated against the pandemic.

The Civil Surgeon said a total of 9,63,542 vaccine had been administered in the district so far, out of which 7,35,772 people had been given the first dose while 2,27,770 people received both the doses. A total of 1,41,831 people above the age of 60 years have been vaccinated in the district.

She also informed that 7,56,833 people had been administered Covishield vaccine while 1,47,761 people got the Covaxin shots. In addition, 8,534 people have received Sputnik vaccine, which is available only in private hospitals.

At present, there are 58 functional government Covid vaccination centers and seven private Covid vaccination centers in the district.

Dr Kaur said there was no shortage of Covid vaccine in the district and that the maximum number of people should come for vaccination, especially those who have been too late for the second dose.

“If the second dose is not taken on time, then there is no point in taking the first dose,” she said. “Only when both doses are taken, does the body fully develop the strength to fight the deadly disease,” she said.