Surprising that has happened regarding COVID booster dose administration for the Chennai residents now
Posted on: 26/May/2022 9:38:31 AM
The number of Coronavirus infection cases has been reducing now in Chennai. This has made many Chennai residents not to take the booster dose vaccination for Covid-19 infection now. This has surprised many officers belonging to Chennai Corporation.
From last week onwards, a total of 1.6 lakh residents including healthcare workers, frontline staff and persons more than 60 years of age have taken the booster vaccination dose.
In Chennai city alone, the number of persons above the age of 60 is 10lakhs. It is now brought out that 15percent of these have taken the booster or precautionary dose of vaccination now. The overall eligible population or persons above the age of 12 in Chennai is 59.8lakhs. Just 2.67% of the eligible population have taken the doses till now. This has been according to the corporation data.
It is now believed when the number of Covid-19 cases increase in Chennai then more persons would rush to get vaccinated. It was explained by an officer belonging to GCC that people above the age of 60 with co-morbidities must take the booster dose without fail. Those persons who are yet to get the booster dose are being contacted by the corporation now but not many are showing interest to get vaccinated.
It was brought to light that Chennai Corporation has not been vaccinating those who are below the age of 60 with the booster dose. These persons must get their booster doses in the private hospitals only as per the protocol. Persons above the age of 60 have been vaccinated by the corporation now.
According to a zonal health officer belonging to Chennai Corporation it was clear that not many were coming forward to get vaccinated. He added that the above process adopted by the corporation of vaccinating only those above 60 years of age would help in reducing the wastage of the vaccines.
It is learnt that those persons above the age of 18 and who have completed 9months since getting the second dose of vaccination would be eligible for the booster dose.
Information gathered is that out of Chennai`s population of 59.86lakhs, 97.08% have received a single vaccination dose and 81/7% have received the second dose. Truth is 84.79% of people above the age of 18 have got their first dose and second dose, 66.04% in the age group 15 to 17 years have received both the doses and 16.7% in the age group 12 to 4 have received both the doses.
