KOLKATA: The door-to-door campaign accompanied by the rising Covid-19 cases has given an impetus to the vaccination drive across the state. From an average of 33,000-plus doses a day in the first week of June the average number of doses administered daily in the last one week has gone up to 76,000-plus jabs. Despite the spike in vaccination footfall, the state has a stiff target to clear the backlog of second dose due by July-end.
A month ago, the state had about 70 lakh people who had not taken their second jab despite being already eligible. The health department started door-to-door and other mobilisation campaigns in June first week with the target to complete vaccination of these eligible adults by July 31. In about a month, only one seventh of them came forward.
“No doubt there has been an improvement in the vaccination drive due to the campaigns. But as far as pending second dose is concerned, we have been able to narrow down the gap only by about 10 lakh. We still have 60 lakh people whose second dose is already due,” said an official at state health department.
With nine lakh persons, Kolkata had the highest number of those who had not taken the second dose due in June beginning. Around one lakh among them have taken their second jab in past one month. Officials said efforts are on to trace the remaining eight lakh.
“One of the reasons for this large number of pending second dose in the city is a floating population like migrant workers. Also, many from neighbouring districts who had taken first jab at KMC CVCs have probably taken the second one elsewhere,” said a KMC official.
“We have enough stock. But it seems a section of people who are yet to take their second and the booster dose are no more scared of the infection,” said Siddhartha Niyogi, director of health services.
