BMC’s second Covid-19 dose plan proves to be damp squib

A woman gets jabbed at a vaccination drive conducted at Swaminarayan Temple in Mahalaxmi. Pic/Ashish Raje

Despite having reserved 70 per cent of vaccine stock for second doses, the public centres have ended up administering less than 40 per cent in the city. The decision of reserving vaccines was taken amid a high number of eligible people for a second dose in August.

As mass inoculation of people over 18 years of age started in May this year and considering that the gap of 84 days between two doses completed in the last week of July, the civic administration estimated a high demand for second doses in August. As per the estimation, more than 13 lakh people were eligible for a second dose between the last week of July and August 31. To handle this demand, the BMC planned to make available more vials for second doses.

The corporation declared that from August 5 onwards, 70 per cent of vaccines will be reserved for second doses. But the latest report of vaccinations done on August 5, 6 and 7 shows a different picture.

Out of around 82,000 doses that were administered on these days at public centres (civic as well as state), 61 per cent were given as a first dose and 39 per cent were administered as a second dose.

In May, a large population between 18 and 44 years went to private centres for inoculation. But now, even in private centres, more doses are administered as a first dose. On both days, the private centres administered 98,000 doses, out of which 65 per cent were given as a first dose and the rest were second doses.

"The doses have been administered as per the people who arrived at these centres for vaccination. We expect more people will come for a second dose from now on," said a BMC official.