1.13 crore yet to take second dose of Covid-19 vaccination in Maharashtra

Beneficiaries outside the vaccination booth at Nair hospital on Monday. Pic/Ashish Raje

Amid the third wave, as many as 1.13 crore people have not taken their second dose, shows data from the state health department. The state has 9.14 crore people in the age group 18 and above. Concerned over this missing number, health officials have decided to rope in religious leaders, celebrities and activists to coax people to complete their vaccination.

According to the data, around 92.95 per cent of the beneficiaries have taken their first dose, while 63.89 per cent are fully vaxxed. The Covid-19 vaccination drive started last year on January 16. As per the data, of the 8.23 crore people who have taken the first dose, 1.13 crore people haven't taken the second shot despite being eligible.

A teenager gets a vaccine shot at the Covid Health Centre, Kanjurmarg East, on Monday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Officials said the government is making attempts to encourage the vaccine-hesitant population to come forward and get protected. "We are trying to rope in religious leaders, celebrities, NGOs etc to reach out to vaccine-hesitant people and motivate them to take the jab. We are also using social media platforms," said a state health official.

State Inoculation Officer Dr Sachin Desai said they will be taking more initiatives to encourage people to get jabbed. "We are organising vaccination camps in villages, near schools and colleges. We also plan to have night vaccination camps in some areas." On the importance of vaccination in fighting the pandemic, Dr Gautam Bhansali, a physician at Bombay Hospital and the coordinator of private hospitals in the city, said, "It is seen that majority of patients occupying oxygen beds were unvaccinated. It is clear that vaccination has played a crucial role as it prevents death and severe disease."

Vaccination in progress at Nair hospital on Tuesday. Pic/Ashish Raje

Unlike adults, state health officials said, there has been a good response to the vaccination in the age group 15-17. In less than a month since its rollout, nearly 26 lakh teens of an estimated 60 lakh population have already taken the first dose.

The health official said, "One of the reasons for more people taking the vaccination in age 15-17 is their parents. Anxiety among parents and awareness along with drives with schools and colleges have helped."

9.14 Cr
No. of beneficiaries in the 18+ age group

8.23 Cr
No. of 18+ people who have got the first shot