Image used for representational purpose
CHANDIGARH: Considering the pace of second dose vaccination in the city, the UT is unlikely to meet the December deadline. There are still around 1.8 lakh beneficiaries left and if 4,000 doses are given daily, it will take more than a month to achieve the target.
During the recent review of the COVID vaccination, it was observed that in Chandigarh about 1,80,000 people who received the first dose of the vaccine had to be given a second dose. This includes approximately 120,000 individuals who have passed the maximum interval of 16 weeks since the first dose of vaccination. In the remaining around 60,000 cases, a minimum gap of 12 weeks has been completed.
The Health Department has warned that in a few days, about three-four Kovid cases are being reported in the city. “However, on Thursday, we got nine Covid cases, which is a cause for serious concern. All citizens are requested to ensure that they have taken both doses of the vaccine and also ensure that their friends, relatives and known persons are also included,” UT Health Secretary Yashpal Garg said.
The city has 8,30,000 beneficiaries for vaccination in the age group of 18 years and above. The UT Health Department has been conducting door-to-door vaccination programs since June. “Before the launch of the Indian government’s ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign this month, we were engaging the community for the vaccination campaign. We got a huge response in the form of people coming from outside the city for our first dose,” Dr Manjit Singh, District Immunization Officer, UT said.
Immunologists say that taking the first dose is not enough. “The primary or first dose generates antibodies that are for a short period of time as do some memory cells. Sunil Arora, Professor, Department of Immunology, PGI, said that only after the second dose or further exposure to the virus, more memory cells are started and immunity lasts longer.
Even though the positivity rate has dropped drastically and the epidemic has reached endemic stage, getting full vaccination will help to make the COVID virus like any other common flu.
The vaccination started in the city in January this year. “It took a while for people to come forward. But once they saw the results, they started coming and we had to open many sites. By partnering with NGOs, activists and religious leaders, we can go everywhere to get them vaccinated. However, as the vaccine is not mandatory, we cannot force people,” the DIO said.
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