Almost 2000 healthcare workers in Jharkhand are yet to take the second dose of Covishield vaccine despite crossing the stipulated time of 28 days since the first dose of the vaccine was administered to them, officials monitoring the immunization programme said on Tuesday, expressing concern over the lackadaisical approach of beneficiaries registered for the second dose of the vaccine in the state.
Although the government has not specified any upper limit as to how long the second dose can be delayed to ensure effectiveness of the vaccine, guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Family Planning state that a beneficiary should get vaccinated for the second time within four to six weeks since the first dose is administered.
“Ideally, any person getting the first jab should make sure that he or she gets the second jab within four to six months since the first dose. We are contacting the registered beneficiaries every day to ensure that they do not miss the six week limit for the second dose of the vaccine,” said Dr. Ajit Prasad, State Immunization Officer.
Another official working closely with the immunization team in Jharkhand said that there was no clarity from the Centre on whether the vaccine would be effective if someone fails to get the second dose on time. “I think the Centre will issue fresh guidelines related to the beneficiaries who do not take the second jab once the number of people missing the second dose increases,” he said.
As per data compiled by the National Health Mission (NHM), Jharkhand achieved 68 per cent of its target for administering the second dose of Covishield vaccine to healthcare workers in the state. Of the 6023 people registered for the second jab, only 4108 turned up at the vaccination centres and were inoculated, NHM data reveals.
While Dhanbad has achieved 92 per cent of its target for second round of vaccination by administering the jab to 201 of 218 beneficiaries, Ranchi has managed to administer the second dose of the vaccine to only 66 of 224 beneficiaries, achieving only 29 per cent of its target. As per NHM data, East Singhbhum has achieved 77 per cent of its target, while 82 per cent of the registered beneficiaries were administered the second dose of the vaccine in Palamu.
Doctors said that some beneficiaries might be apprehensive about getting the second jab after experiencing minor side effects following the first dose of the vaccine. However, they clarified that mild fever or other minor side effects were common after immunization and should not be a reason to skip the second dose.