All public centres operated by the BMC and state-run hospitals will administer only the second jab on September 4; move aimed at fully vaccinating more citizens
A beneficiary receives a dose of Covaxin at Nair hospital on Thursday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
In its attempts to speed up full vaccination of citizens, the BMC has announced a special session for the second dose of the COVID vaccine on Saturday, September 4, at public centres run by the civic body and state-run hospitals. No one will be given the first dose at these centre on that day.
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As per official data, 69.26 lakh citizens have been given the first dose, while 25.17 lakh have got their second jab.
“These statistics indicate that the number of beneficiaries taking the second dose is less than the first dose. So the corporation has arranged the special session on Saturday only for the second dose,” said a BMC official.
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There were 11 lakh, eligible people, for the second dose in August but only 8 lakh received the shots. In September, an additional 18 lakh citizens will be eligible for their second dose. The corporation wanted to fill this gap amid the warning of the third wave, said an official.