Mumbai: 32,000 doses to go for 100 per cent first jab

A health worker administers a dose of vaccine at BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central. Pic/Ashish Raje

Till Wednesday evening, 92.04 lakh people in the city have taken their first dose of vaccine, as opposed to the targetted population of 92.36 lakh. Mumbai may achieve the target in two days. The city also crossed the 1.5-crore dose milestone, including both first and second doses.

The state government has set targets for all local bodies in their respective areas based on census data and number of eligible citizens, according to which the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has the target to vaccinate 92,36,500 citizens.

Of this, 92,04,950 citizens have taken the first dose till 6.30 pm on Wednesday. In November, on an average around 16,000 to 18,000 people are taking the first dose daily in vaccination centres, including government, municipal and private ones. In terms of second dose, 58,62,933 or 63 per cent citizens have received both the shots.

"Many corporations exceed the number of targets. Even in Mumbai, the number may increase even after achieving the target. We will try to go to every nook and corner to vaccinate people," said a BMC official.

The national vaccination campaign against Covid-19 started on January 16 this year across the country. This was first introduced for health workers, then gradually extended to frontline staff, senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and finally all citizens aged above 18.

The government also started special vaccination drives, such as drive-in centres for senior citizens, centres for lactating mothers as well as students going abroad for education or jobs.

The civic body also started door-to-door vaccination drive for ailing and bed-ridden citizens. Apart from this, special measures have been taken for people with disabilities, tribals, prisoners, members of the LGBTQIA community etc.