Civic body says their priority is to ensure that all citizens are fully vaccinated first
A frontline worker gets jabbed at Shri Cinema civic health post, Mahim. File pic
Even as more cases of breakthrough COVID-19 infection are reported, especially among the medical fraternity, there has been no talk about a booster dose for healthcare and frontline workers. There are over 1.47 lakh healthcare and frontline workers who received their second dose of the COVID vaccine six months ago. Last week, 29 students at KEM Hospital tested positive for COVID-19.
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The BMC started the vaccination drive for frontline and healthcare workers in January and the second dose vaccination started on February 15, in keeping with the advised gap between two doses at the time. By the end of March, 82,852 healthcare workers and 64,304 frontline workers got the second dose, along with 314 senior citizens and 56 citizens in the 45 to 59 age group. With six months having passed since the second dose, there are questions over decreasing antibodies with time.
Frontline and healthcare workers get vaccinated at Khan Bahadur Bhabha Hospital in Kurla in May. File pic
In a recent sero survey conducted from August 13 to September 8, approximately 17,000 healthcare workers were tested and antibodies were found in 87 per cent of them. The survey also found antibodies in 90 per cent of people who have taken at least one dose of vaccine and 80 per cent of people who had not taken any vaccine.
“There are many instances of healthcare workers getting infected even after full vaccination,” said Ranjana Athavale from the nursing and paramedical staff union. She, however, said that the symptoms are not serious. “Our fraternity has not demanded a third dose yet. Besides, there are still one lakh healthcare workers who are yet to take the second dose,” she said.
A civic official on the condition of anonymity said, “We have been working every day since the first wave. While the government has a priority to complete vaccination of the general public, we expect they will think of booster doses for frontline workers. Some countries have already started it.”
“We haven’t got any instructions for a booster dose from the Central government. We are focussing on vaccinating the general public on priority now,” said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of BMC.
“As there has not been severe cases of infection after full vaccination, there has not been any discussion on booster dose at the administration level yet,” said Pradip Narkar, assistant general secretary, Municipal Mazdoor Union.
Fully-jabbed healthcare and frontline workers
End of March
. 64,304: No. of frontline workers who got both doses
. 82,852: No. of healthcare workers who got both doses
Till October 2
. 425,202: No. of healthcare and frontline workers who got at least one dose
. 324,317: No. of healthcare/frontline workers with both doses
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