And, a full day for 2nd dose takers

This picture has been used for representational purpose

Of 21 lakh eligible citizens, 3.63 lakh got their second dose of the vaccine in the first week of September. After a successful drive only for the second dose on September 4, where over 87,000 received the jab, the BMC has arranged another drive today. Only the second dose will be given at public centres today to clear the backlog.

At least 11 lakh people were waiting for their second dose in August but barely 8 lakh were lucky to get it. Now till September end another 18 lakh citizens will complete the gap of 84 days between two doses of covishield. The task of vaccinating the city's population is getting tougher by the day for the BMC.

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In August, over 65 per cent of the doses (13.9 lakh) were given as first shots and 7.46 lakh doses were administered as second ones. From September 1 to 7, 3.20 lakh people received the first dose while 3.63 lakh received second dose. The number of beneficiaries for the second dose increased due to a special drive on September 4 where 87,257 received the second doses in public centres. Now the BMC has arranged one more drive on Thursday to clear the backlog.

"The special drive has been arranged after the success of the first drive on September 4. We are expecting a large number of beneficiaries for their second dose. The drive will be on at all public centres," said an official from the BMC. There are 319 public centres in the city. At least 15 lakh of the people who will be eligible for the second dose by September-end are in the 18 to 44 years group.

87,257
No. of people who got the second dose on September 4