BENGALURU: Of the 84.7 lakh people scheduled to receive the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Karnataka by July 23 (morning), only 67% or 56.7 lakh have been fully inoculated, reports Sunitha Rao R. The government is now making efforts to track down the remaining 33% or 27.9 lakh and administer the dose on priority. This group includes healthcare workers and frontline workers and people above 18 years of age.
While the coverage varies, 11 districts have done better than the state’s average when it comes to administering the second dose. The remaining 21 districts are lagging, data as on July 20 shows. While Udupi has jabbed 90% of those eligible for the second time, Chamarajanagar has the lowest coverage at 49%.
Koppal (50%), Yadgir (53%), Vijayapura (54%), Ballari (56%) and Haveri (57%), in that order, have fared better than Chamarajanagar, but still have considerable ground to cover. These districts are in contrast to BBMP, which has fully inoculated 83% of those eligible, while Bengaluru Urban district has covered 80%.
“The target varies and mostly increases on a daily basis as more people who have completed 84 days after taking the first dose of Covishield and four weeks after taking Covaxin become eligible,” officials said. The state health and family welfare department admitted that there are many who are yet to turn up for the second dose of Covishield even after completing 84 days. Dr Arundhathi Chandrashekar, mission director, National Health Mission, Karnataka, said the state is taking steps to connect with people due for the second dose.
“The priority is to administer the second dose to all those who are eligible and ensure complete immunisation,” Dr Chandrashekar said. “We are also checking through ASHA workers on the ground to inquire if first dose recipients are due for the second dose.”
Confusion over interval
There are many reasons for the relatively low second dose coverage, one of which is the government’s decision to change the interval between the doses of Covishield. This triggered confusion among some people, Dr Chandrashekar said. The second dose of Covishield vaccination must be taken within 12-16 weeks of the first dose, as per GOI guidelines. For Covaxin, the interval is 4-6 weeks.
Dr Chandrashekar clarified that the Co-Win portal will accept registrations even if someone delays the second dose beyond 16 weeks. However, the vaccination data does not include many who have not received the first dose certificate, despite receiving the shot. Several district health officials TOI spoke with say many working professionals and labourers, who took the first dose in their hometowns and villages and returned to their places of employment like Bengaluru, are yet to take the second dose.
“For example, some of those who took the first dose in Bagalkot have gone back to Bengaluru or to districts where they are employed. They have to be reminded that their second dose is overdue,” said Dr Anant Desai, district health officer, Bagalkot. The district has covered 59% of the target for the second dose.
Infection delays
Officials also point out that there could be cases where a person contracted the infection after taking the first dose. In such cases, they can take the second dose only after three months from the time they tested positive.
“In most cases, the infection would not have been severe because of protection offered through the first dose,” an official said. “There have also been cases of people succumbing to Covid despite taking the first dose. However, that would be a very small portion of the 33% who are due for the second dose.”
Back at work
Another official said, now that restrictions have been lifted, most of the working class are back at work and there are concerns about taking the dose on working days. “We have tried to analyse why labourers are shying away from taking the second dose,” said an official from North Karnataka, who is working on conducting vaccine drives for labourers at convenient timings. “Since Sunday is a holiday, they want to take it on a Saturday evening after working hours so that they won’t have to miss work in case they develop side effects like fever.”
