Merely 10,000 of 1.8 lakh take Covid-19 booster dose on Day 1 in Mumbai

On Monday, 1,81,660 people who had taken both the vaccine doses on or before April 10 were eligible for the booster shot

Around 1.82 lakh people were eligible for the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine on the first day, on Monday, but only 10,698 received their shot. Of them, 5,249 were healthcare workers, 1,823 frontline workers and 3,626 senior citizens.

The booster (precaution) dose for healthcare and frontline workers, and senior citizens with comorbidities started on Monday across all civic and private centres.

The BMC’s Public Health Department has stated that senior citizens are not required to submit any medical certificate to prove they are co-morbid.

A beneficiary receives his booster dose, at BKC Jumbo COVID Center, on Monday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

The gap between the second dose and the booster shot should be nine months or 39 weeks. As per the initial estimation, 1,81,660 people who had taken both vaccine doses on or before April 10 were eligible for the booster shot on Day 1.

While civic centres administer the vaccines free of charge, paid vaccination is available at private facilities at the price fixed by the central government.

By the end of January, 4.22 lakh people, who received their second dose on or before May 1, will be eligible for the booster shot. These beneficiaries include 1.05 lakh healthcare workers, 1.08 lakh frontline workers and 2.09 lakh senior citizens. 

So far, 1.01 crore people, including 70,000 adolescents, have taken the first dose in Mumbai, and 83.16 lakh have been fully vaccinated.

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