25% of total population vaccinated in 196 days in Vidarbha

Nagpur: Around 25.58% of the population of Vidarbha has been vaccinated in 196 days of Covid-19 vaccination programme. When it comes to eligible people, the coverage is 34.52%. Experts say inoculation should have been at least 60% by now as part of preparations for projected third wave.
Data of the state’s public health department shows estimated population of 11 districts of the region is 2,55,12,946. People above 18 years, who are eligible for vaccine, number 1,89,02,637 in the region. Of these, 65,25,609 people have taken the first dose as on July 30.
The government had rolled out vaccines on January 16. Thus, vaccination happened for 196 days till July 30.
If one considers total population, 25.58% people have been vaccinated, with 34.52% of eligible people having taken at least one dose. This means on an average 33,294 people were vaccinated every day in the region.
The coverage of the region is very less if one considers current data of Nagpur district. Vaccination of around 40,000 people per day is being done in the district since resumption of inoculation of 18-44 years age group on June 23.
In fact, cumulative vaccination of the district is also very less, just like entire region. Of total estimated population of 52,72,665, some 18,14,577 (34.41%) have taken the first dose. People eligible for vaccine number 39,23,391, of which 46.25% have been covered. Daily average will come to 9,258 of the district.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Zilla Parishad are running 341 centres in the district where around a lakh can be easily inoculated in a day.
The government had rolled out vaccine beginning with healthcare workers (HCW) from January 16 followed by frontline workers (FLW) from February 5, age-appropriate group (above 60-plus and 45-plus with comorbidities), 45-plus from April 1 and 18-plus from May 1. Apart from eligibility in phased manner, the supply of doses was irregular and the same situation continues till date.
Convener of Vidarbha Hospitals Association Dr Anup Marar told TOI, “The current figures reflect the slow pace. We should have touched at least 60% by now. We need to gear up for the third wave, which is expected to be 1.5 times the peak of second wave. People should not be complacent and undertake vaccination at the earliest. They should understand that it would be impossible to arrange hospital logistics for such an anticipated figure. All social organizations should promote vaccination on war footing.”
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde said, “70% of total population needs to be vaccinated to dissociate cases from hospitalization and deaths. Unvaccinated people will be most vulnerable in next wave. We must find innovative ways to increase vaccination rate. Now, the availability of doses is good.”
Dr Shinde added, “The authorities should come up with schemes to promote vaccination and also give certain relaxations to people who are fully vaccinated. For example, allow only vaccinated people to run shops or restaurants etc, or give discounts for vaccinated people, which airlines are doing. Vaccination of all adults in educational institutions is must for resumption. Unvaccinated people can be threat to society.”
Vaccination continued in the city and rural areas on Sunday. Some 14,549 people took the jab in the city and 1,330 in rural for a total of 15,879 in the district. NMC has announced continuation of vaccination in the city on Monday with availability of Covishield and Covaxin doses.