NEW DELHI: Delhi reported the highest single-day turnout for
Covid vaccination on Saturday with 80797 people turning up at
various vaccination centres at private and government facilities. The turnout further increased because 80797 people turned up only till 6 pm while the vaccination continued till 9 pm. The vaccination turnout is very high as compared to the previous months because the government has permitted vaccination for all above 45 years from April 1. Only three minor adverse events were reported.
Nearly 46000 people out of 80797 belonged to 45 to 59 age group while 21432 people belonged to above 60 age group. 3131 frontline workers and 1882
healthcare workers got the jab among 72232 people who got the first dose while 8565 people got the second dose.
“Most of all people who got vaccinated today got the first dose and only 8565 people got the second dose which means that there is a great enthusiasm among people to get the vaccine. It may also be due to rising Covid cases. People are rushing for the vaccine to protect themselves from the coronavirus,” said an official.
Only 52408 people had got the vaccine till 6pm on Friday. “The 45 to 59 age group is the group that is busy in their occupational work all working days. They came out in large number on weekend. It is likely that the turnout will remain high on Sunday as well,” said an official.
The smooth registration for vaccination is also speeding up the vaccination number. Walk-ins outnumber the registered beneficiaries and the vaccination centres take very less time in registering the walk-in before they are allowed to get the jab. Those going through the easy to get jab process are also motivating their friends and family members to get the vaccine.
“The vaccination was very smooth and pain-less. I had many apprehensions about the getting the jab, but it was totally painless and took only few minutes from verification of registration to getting the vaccine,” said Ghanshyam Sharma, a 65-year-old, beneficiary who took the shot at
Lok Nayak Hospital.
At various vaccination centres walk-ins were more than the number of registered individuals who turned out to get the jab once again. It has been the trend since the vaccination for all above 45 years began. It is helping those who are not digitally friendly and they are feeling empowered. They are also one of the key factors behind the increase in turnout. “People just walk in with their Aadhar card for vaccination,” said an official. The government has allowed earmarked 3pm to 9pm time for walk-ins but even before that walk-ins are allowed.
“We give priority to those who have scheduled vaccination before 3pm, but when there are no more scheduled vaccination during this period we also allow walk-ins,” said an official at a government hospital.
Till 9pm a total of 60376 people were vaccinated on Friday. It was lower than 70,000 people who got the vaccine on Thursday by 9pm. The vaccination starts at 9am and continues till 9pm. The number of healthcare workers and frontline workers is far lower because they are getting the vaccine for a long time. The vaccination began in January with healthcare workers and since the first week of February the frontline workers have been getting the shots.