Only 2.7k take booster at Tika Utsav, state +vity rate up to 7.1%

Panaji: A total of only 2,721 persons including senior citizens, healthcare and frontline workers, received their booster doses on Sunday for Tika Utsav even as Goa’s case positivity rose to 7.1% on Sunday. Goa reported 41 new Covid-19 cases after a total of 581 samples were tested. On Saturday, 36 had tested positive.
This has taken the active tally to 262. There were zero deaths and hospitalisations on the day, an official said.
North Goa reported administering 1,317 doses and South Goa 1,404 doses on Sunday.
The booster doses are being offered free at government setups for these three categories, provided they have completed nine months after the second dose.
State immunologist Dr Rajendra Borkar said the efficacy is 50-60% with one dose and 60-70% with two doses. “This is not enough to protect us. The efficacy is 90% and above with the booster dose, and this will protect us from Covid,” he said. Health centre teams will to go door-to-door to vaccinate those who are bed-ridden, he said.