Only 37% of 3 crore healthcare workers fully vaccinated; 91 lakh got only 1 dose

Only 37 per cent of the estimated target of three crore healthcare and frontline workers have so far been fully vaccinated. Around 91 lakh healthcare workers have received only one dose of the vaccine against the Covid-19 infection.

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Healthcare workers unload Covid-19 vaccine doses during the vaccination drive on the outskirts of Ahmedabad (Reuters photo)

The vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers, who were in the priority group when the vaccination drive began in January, continues to struggle as only 37 per cent of the estimated target of three crore have so far been fully vaccinated. Around 91 lakh healthcare workers have received only one dose of the vaccine against the Covid-19 infection.

While the vaccinations began back in January, the coverage has remained poor. According to a report, only 2.36 crore health and frontline workers registered for vaccination, even though the states and the UTs were asked to pre-populate this category.

The report mentioned that despite the health ministry's awareness drive and with several doctors and public figures coming forward to endorse the vaccines, hesitancy has remained.

Manipal Hospitals chairman Dr Sudarshan Ballal, however, said there's no justification for it.

"There is absolutely no justification for vaccine hesitancy among health workers. If a healthcare worker has vaccine hesitancy, it will be very difficult to recommend vaccination to society at large and there should be some consequences if this category does not get itself vaccinated," he said.

In the past 24 hours, more than 12 lakh (12,30,007) vaccination doses have been administered. Total vaccine doses administered are 12,26,22,590.

Currently, eight states account for 59.42% of the total doses given so far. These are Kerala (58,70,232), Karnataka (72,96,771), Madhya Pradesh (73,29,901), West Bengal (87,64,173), Gujarat (1,04,51,246), Uttar Pradesh (1,07,18,375), Rajasthan (1,08,84,806) and Maharashtra (1,22,73,973).

Posted byChanchal Chauhan