Mumbai: Only 39,000 of 90,000 healthcare workers took booster shot

Only 40 per cent of healthcare workers have taken the booster dose. File pic

Not just the vaccination drive for children, but even administering booster (precautionary) shots to the senior citizens have been moving at a very slow pace. Till now only 1.42 lakh citizens have received booster shots so far against 2.68 lakh eligible people. The ratio of health workers taking the third shot is the lowest (40 per cent) as many of them are infected and need to have a buffer of two weeks before taking the precaution dose.

Till Saturday, January 22, 1,42,027 citizens had taken the third jab, out of 2.68 lakh people, who have taken both doses on or before April 2021 and are eligible for the booster shot. Though 68 per cent of senior citizens and 53 per cent of frontline workers have taken their third dose so far, the proportion among the healthcare workers is the lowest. Out of 90,000 eligible healthcare workers, only 39,000 were able to take the jab.

"The booster dose started on January 10 and Mumbai reported infections by December 21. Many of the healthcare workers were infected in the initial period of the third wave. Even though they are eligible, they couldn't take their third shot," said a BMC health officer. BMC has expected around 4.23 lakh people, who have taken both doses till May 1 and are eligible, to take a booster shot by January-end.

Vaccination drive for children moves at a snail's speed

Around 2.25 lakh children will receive the jabs against the target of 9 lakh till January 30. The second dose of Covaxin will start by January 31. The civic body had aimed to complete administering the first dose to all students by then. However, it seems impossible. After the initial slowdown, BMC has now planned vaccination camps at schools and colleges. A BMC official said, "The schools have reopened, which will be helpful for school authorities to organise camps. Initially, we started the drive at 9 jumbo centres only, so that children will get immediate medical attention in case of side effects. But now, as hardly any side effects are being reported, we can start camps at the school level."