Over 4.09 lakh given Covid vaccine jab so far

Prayargraj: As many as 4,09,595 Covid vaccine shots were administered to recipients of all age groups, including above 45 years and between 18 and 44 years, in the district till May 11.
While 3,16,290 beneficiaries had taken the first dose of vaccine, a total of 93,045 recipients had also received the second dose of vaccine.
Officials said the health department has currently taken up vaccination exercise of recipients between 18 and 44 which is underway at 20 sites. A total of 25 sessions, including six in urban and 14 in rural areas, are being organised to cover the maximum number of beneficiaries.
Besides, beneficiaries above 45 of years are also vaccinated at other centres in both rural and urban pockets.
Additional chief medical officer and district immunization officer (DIO) Dr Teerath Lal told TOI, “On an average, we are covering around 7,000 beneficiaries every day of all age groups including above 45 and recipients between 18 and 44 years.”
For instance, a total of 7,532 vaccine shots were administered to recipients of all age groups in the past 24 hours which included 6,234 recipients of first dose and 1,298 of second dose, he said adding that more and more people are getting themselves registered on the health department’s portal for vaccination.
Interestingly, there has been a steep rise in the number of recipients between 18 and 44 years of age getting them registered with the CoWin portal. The fact is that a long queue of recipients can be spotted at six urban centres including MLN Medical college, Duffrin hospital, Railway hospital, MD Eye hospital, TB Sapru hospital and Urban PHC (Daraganj) waiting for their turn.
Similarly, elderly were also lined up to get themselves vaccinated at others centres including MLN Divisional hospital (Colvin hospital).
Health officials admitted that “as around 60 percent of district population falls in the age category between 18 and 44 years, the number of such recipients was more compared to elderly group slot. As a result, 20 sites of vaccination have been reserved for them to cover the maximum number of this age group of recipients at the vaccination centres and also to create a database of people in the target age group”.
However, getting registered on the CoWIN web portal and taking an appointment to get a Covid-19 vaccine jab has been mandatory for those aged between 18-44 years.
Officials, however, made it clear those who have already received the first dose at private or government vaccination centres and want to get the second dose, needn’t get registered as their registration has already been made on portals. They would have to walk in at any government centre to get their second dose.
A senior health official said, “There has been an increased demand for vaccination once the vaccination for the age group of 18-44 years is opened. And, for better management and control, registering on the CoWIN portal and taking prior appointments to get the shot has been mandatory for those aged between 18-45 years to tackle the rush of recipients.
In the city, more eligible recipients are turning to Covid vaccination centres to get the shots.
However, recipients from urban pockets turning up at vaccination centres is more as compared to rural community health centres.