30 September,2021 07:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Prajakta Kasale
Beneficiaries receive vaccine doses at Nair Hospital on September 28. Pic/Ashish Raje
With more than 27 lakh vaccine doses administered in September, the city seems to be slowly getting out of the crisis, but it still needs an additional 60 lakh doses to fully vaccinate all above 18 years of age. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that it will take another four months to fully inoculate the city's adult population, as approximately 10 lakh people are yet to receive their first dose.
As per the last census, about 90 lakh people in the city are above 18 years. Till September 28, 80.09 lakh people received their first dose whereas 40.16 lakh received the second dose. "If the current speed of vaccination remains, we will be able to vaccinate all within the next four months," said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC. According to the civic body, even if another 60 lakh doses were supplied within the next three months, it would take another four months to fully vaccinate the population, as 10 lakh people are still waiting for their first dose. If these people receive it in October and the gap of 84 days between two doses remains, then it would take another three months to fully inoculate the city against COVID.
Out of the 21 lakh citizens who were eligible for a second dose in September, 15 lakh received it by the 28th. About 12 lakh people received their first dose in the same period. Sources said that the city received 25 per cent more vaccines this month compared to August and the additional amount was administered by public vaccination centres and state hospitals. Till August, more people were queuing up for their first dose, whereas in September the number of people who received the second dose was more than double of the previous month.
As the stock received by public centres is increasing, the share of paid vaccines is decreasing. Of the 26.65 lakh people who got their vaccine doses in September, less than 40 per cent (10.5 lakh) took it at private centres. Public centres administered above 16 lakh doses. In August, out of the total 21.36 lakh doses administered, private hospitals gave 11.6 lakh.
Meanwhile, the decision to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is still pending with the central government. If an approval is given next month, then the BMC will start a drive to vaccinate 10 to 12 lakh children between the age of 12 and 18 years.
