Nagpur: In six districts of Nagpur division, 2,27,744 healthcare workers (HCW) and frontline workers (FLW) have taken the Covid-19 vaccine before discontinuation of these two categories by the central government. A record 41,763 people took the jab in Nagpur district on Saturday which marks the first time jab figures went more than 40,000 in a day.
The Centre on Saturday issued an order announcing no fresh registration in HCW and FLW categories from Sunday.
As per the data from the office of divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar, 1,15,004 HCW registered and took the first dose between January 16 and March 3. In all, 1,12,740 FLW registered and took the jab between February 5 and March 3.
In Nagpur district, 1,10,951 registered and took the first dose under HCW (56,284) and FLW (54,667) categories. The number of beneficiaries in Nagpur district is much higher compared to the remaining five districts of the division.
Nearly 35,461 took the jab — HCW (17,435) and FLW (18,026) categories — in Chandrapur district followed by 23,496 (HCW 9,319 and FLW 14,177) in Gondia district, 23,105 (HCW 16,119 and FLW 6,986) in Wardha district, 20,013 (HCW 8,095 and FLW 11,918) in Gadchiroli district and 14,718 (HCW 7,752 and FLW 6,966) in Bhandara district.
“HCW and FLW who registered on the Co-Win application and did not take the jab by Saturday can complete their dose. In the case of those below 45 years, people cannot be registered in these two categories. Whoever is left in these two categories and are 45 and above can register and take the jab,” additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi told TOI.
With spike in cases and deaths in the district, the NMC has allowed few sectors in HCW like staffers working in pharmacies and pathology labs. Many sectors, including banking, postal, railways, BNSL, MSEDCL, teaching etc were allowed inoculation irrespective of their age. People in these sectors were also exposed to a large number of citizens on a daily basis and were considered in these two categories. Now, people working in these sectors can take the jab only if they are above 45.
Guardian minister Nitin Raut and Kumar had set a target of increasing the vaccination to 40,000 per day. On Saturday, 41,736 people took the jab in the district of which 24,473 were from the 45-59 age group. This is the highest-ever in a single day as the highest earlier was 31,244 on Friday.
The NMC on Saturday increased the number of vaccination centres from 86 to 89. The vaccination count was 15,871 in the city.
The Zilla Parishad led by CEO Yogesh Kumbhekar has increased the centres from 241 to 318, four times higher compared to the number of centres in the city. Accordingly, vaccination surged to a record 25,685 in Nagpur rural on Saturday which is higher compared to the inoculation in the city.
Since the start of the vaccination drive for people from the age-appropriate group, the teams of ZP, revenue department and Gram Panchayats are mobilizing eligible people for vaccination through the door-to-door method.
“NMC is planning to add more 50 centres in the city on Monday and Tuesday.
The NMC did not get doses of Covaxin on Saturday forcing it to start Covishield at vaccination centres situated at NMC’s Hansapuri Ayurvedic Dispensary and Dr Ambedkar Hospital. Covaxin continued at two centres in GMCH, NMC Datke Memorial Diagnostic Centre and Viveka Hospital,” said Joshi.
Around 1,500 doses of Covaxin are left with GMCH, said NMC sources.
The office of deputy director of health services (DDHS) has reportedly assured the NMC of giving doses of Covaxin by getting them from adjoining districts. The NMC has sufficient stock of Covishield.