Delta Plus variant risk persists, vaccination slows down

Aurangabad, July 3:

The administration was able to subdue the first and second wave of Covid-19. It is being predicted that the Delta Plus variant may appear in the third wave. Experts say that every citizen must be vaccinated to reverse this risk and reduce the loss of life. However, vaccination has slowed down in Aurangabad district due to lack of vaccines.

The vaccination campaign has been irregular in the past eight days. The health department has set up a system to vaccinate 20,000 people in urban areas and 10,000 people in rural areas. However, vaccines are not available in such large quantities. The city received 15,000 doses two days ago. Of that, 12,000 doses were used in a day. The remaining 3,000 doses were given on Saturday at seven centres. Till date, 4.5 lakh citizens have been vaccinated in the city. Three and a half lakh citizens received the first dose. Vaccines are not available for citizens who want the second dose. The municipal administration is pointing the finger at the government. The corporation claims that 29 per cent vaccination has been done in the city. However, the number of citizens receiving both the doses is only 1 per cent. Experts point out that every citizen is required to take two doses to reverse the risk of Delta Plus. But the target might seem far away as the city lacks vaccines.

Highest vaccination in the age group of 18 to 44 years

Vaccination for citizens above 18 years of age was started from June 22 in the city. The youths responded overwhelmingly to the campaign. In just eight days, 1,25,945 people took the first dose. The number of people taking the second dose is 3,008. The number is likely to increase further if vaccine stocks are abundant.

Hospitals in N-8, N-11 take the lead

The municipal corporation has started vaccination campaigns at 80 to 82 centres in the city. In the last six months, hospitals in N-8 and N-11 have been at the forefront. Citizens are coming in large numbers to get vaccinated at these centres, hence long queues are being formed in front of both the hospitals.

Total vaccination in the district: 8,32,208

First dose - 6,68,572

Second dose - 1,63,636

Health workers:

First dose – 28,355

Second dose – 16,115

Front-line workers:

First dose – 37,614

Second dose – 18,755

Age group 18-44:

First dose – 1,25,945

Second dose – 3008

Age group 45-59:

First dose – 97,434

Second dose – 33,847

Above 60 years:

First dose – 67,122

Second dose – 31,606