Nagpur: Doctors have welcomed the Centre’s move to provide free vaccine to the 18-59 age group, but have also called it a “delayed step”. Free shots will only be available for 75 days starting Friday. Food will be administered at government centers, the list of which will be released on Thursday.
On July 11, TOI had reported poor response to the third dose as people are reluctant to pay for it.
In Vidarbha, the overall coverage of the third dose is less than 2.5%. Nagpur (4.2%) and Bhandara (4%) are the two districts where at least 4% have taken it. In Buldhana (1.41%), Chandrapur (1.9%), Gadchiroli (1.5%) and Yavatmal (1.7%), the response is lowest in Vidarbha.
Even municipal cities like Akola (2%) and Amravati (2.5%) have shown poor coverage. Some private hospitals in Vidarbha started paying for immunization services in June, but there were hardly any takers. In Nagpur, only 3 hospitals maintain a limited stock of paid booster doses. They will continue to supply paid boosters.
Online registration for the free shots should be available from Thursday and slots will open on Friday. Initially, select centers run by government officials will offer the dosage.
Those who have completed six months of taking their second dose are eligible. According to one estimate, 70% of the 18-59 population will be eligible for a booster in the next three months.
“Booster completes the COVID vaccination process. It should have been made free long ago. Now, most young people have developed natural immunity. Still, people should get a booster dose at the earliest to be safe for several months,” said infectious disease specialist Dr Nitin Shinde.
To speed up the pace of vaccination, the second round of ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign is currently going on across the country. Officials will soon include a free booster dose for the population of 18-59 in the scheme, which means they will get the vaccine at their doorstep.
free booster
Booster dose coverage poor in Vidarbha, less than 2.5%
People are hesitant to buy the third dose, hoping it’s free
Free booster available only at government immunization centers
Covishield and Covaxin will be available, online slot booking will start from Thursday
Possibility of distribution of free boosters from door to door under Har Ghar Dastak
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