The Government’s drive for ‘precaution dose’ for Covid-19, also called ‘booster dose’ in global parlance, is yet to gather steam. Launched on January 10 across the country, the precaution dose programme has so far covered just 39 per cent of people above 60 years of age with co-morbidities.
Healthcare workers and frontline workers who are also eligible for the dose are also taking their own time to get themselves inoculated. This, despite the fact that there are sufficient Covid vaccines available with the States.
According to the Union Health Ministry, about 63 per cent eligible healthcare workers, 58 per cent frontline workers have opted for the ‘special dose’. There are around 35 lakh and 33 lakh healthcare workers and frontline workers respectively in the country.
In contrast, "Over 4 crore youngsters between the 15-18 age group were vaccinated against COVID19 in just 19 days. Young India is contributing significantly towards further strengthening the nation's fight against the pandemic," said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a tweet on Friday. According to the Co-WIN portal, a total 4,13,91,852 have registered themselves for the first dose of vaccines on the portal.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said about 22.66 lakh healthcare workers have received their precaution dose, accounting for 63 per cent of such people. Similarly, “there are 33 lakh frontline workers who were due for precaution dose and 191400 have got precaution dose which is 58 per cent.
"Those above 60 years and with comorbidities, the eligible number is 47,81,000 out of them 18,66,000 have taken precaution dose which comes to 39 per cent," Bhushan said.
However, while admitting that the pace is not as per expectation, the senior official hoped that it will soon in near future. "So given the fact it has been only 10 days since we rolled out precaution dose the coverage yet is not bad though we are constantly engaging with the states to ensure that the uptake increases. It is essential that all of must motivate people to get doses for which they are eligible," he said.
The fact that about 1 crore people in the over 60 age group are yet to get their first dose is also bothering the government. NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said there are still 6.5 crore people whose second dose is overdue.
"At least 25 per cent (of age above 60 years) are yet to get a second dose. This is unfinished work. 52 per cent children have been covered in the 15-17 years age group, more healthcare and frontline workers should also come forward. Availability is not at all an issue here," he said.
Why should it be overdue, everyone should take their second dose. All those who are not fully protected will not be a danger to itself but others too. We have to accept masks and protect our seniors and the prevention tool here is vaccination and we need to take it in this paradigm," he said.
As per government data, 12 states and union territories including Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 100 per cent of the eligible adult population.
The countrywide Covid-19 vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021 with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers started on February 2 while the next phase of vaccination commenced from March 1 for people aged above 60 and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
The country launched vaccination for all people aged above 45 from April 1 while everyone above the age of 18 started getting the vaccine from May 1. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents in the 15 to 18 age group commenced from January 3, 2022. The ‘Precaution dose’ of Covid-19 vaccine Drive for healthcare workers, frontline workers, including personnel deployed for election duty, and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10.