CoWIN shows 45 lakh people in Pune given at least one dose

PUNE: As many as 45 lakh people in the district have been given at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccines so far, data on CoWIN has shown.
The vaccination database showed that 36.78 lakh people have received at least the first shot of Covishield or Covaxin, while 8.93 lakh people have been given their second shot as well.
Sanjay Deshmukh, assistant director (medical), Pune circle, said vaccination numbers have seen a major boost in June. He added that if supplies remain steady, July too could see similar levels of coverage.
June, with more than 12 lakh vaccinated, has recorded the best coverage since April, when the district had vaccinated more than 14 lakh beneficiaries.
“We are also aware that many citizens are now waiting to get their second dose of Covishield. It is going to be a real challenge to vaccinate all of them,” he said.
In July, nearly 10 lakh people in the district from the 45-plus group are expected to become eligible for a second dose of Covishield. These beneficiaries were given their first shots early in April and and according to guidelines, they'll need the second after 12 to 16 weeks.
Deshmukh said that the strategy to reserve Covaxin stock only for second doses has been relaxed a bit to allow some beneficiaries to receive a first dose.
“If some doses are left from an already opened vial, vaccinators have been allowed to give them to first-dose beneficiaries.”
There was no fresh supply of vaccines on Wednesday. District officials who were expecting a batch said they are now hoping it lands on Friday.
“We might receive around one lakh doses of Covishield by Friday,” Deshmukh said. In June, Pune district received nearly 6.7 lakh doses of both Covishield and Covaxin.
For Thursday, July 1, the PCMC has decided to carry out vaccinations across eight sites — for first and second-dose beneficiaries. The civic body has set aside another eight centres for healthcare and frontline staff who are due for a second dose. The PMC had not announced a vaccine plan for Thursday till late on Wednesday.