Mumbai: 100 per cent vaccination still a lofty ambition for BMC

This picture has been used for representational purpose

With the current speed of the administration of the first dose, there will be more than the estimated figure of 90 lakh eligible for a COVID vaccine in the city. This estimation was based on the 2011 census.

Officials have cited reasons such as old data, MMR residents who have chosen to get vaccinated in Mumbai, and health line/front line workers from neighbouring cities, for the tally to be incorrect. Hence, it still may be time before Mumbai hits the 100 per cent vaccination mark.

Although the corporation had claimed that more than 94 per cent of the adult population over 18 years have received their first dose of the vaccine, the current scenario at the vaccination centres reveals another picture. As per the official data released by the BMC, 84.5 lakh people received their first dose of vaccine. As per the last census carried out in 2011, there are around 90 lakh adults in the city.

Out of it, 11 lakh were senior citizens, 19 lakh were between 45 to 59 years and 60 lakh were between 18 to 45 years. But till October 8, the number of seniors and those aged between 45 to 59 years already crossed the estimated mark. "The state government has now given us a target of 92 lakh people. We have the infrastructure and are ready to vaccinate people," said Dr Mangala Gomare, executive health officer of the BMC.