PUNE: A total of 10.48 lakh citizens were due for the second dose of Covid-19 vaccines in the district as of November 9, the latest report of the state health department revealed.
These people had surpassed the required interval period between the first and the second shot and should avail the second dose at the earliest possible for broader and long-lasting immunity, officials stressed.
The district’s total population is 1.17 crore. Of this, a total of 83.42 lakh are above 18 years and eligible to get the vaccines. Of them, 78.68 lakh have got the first dose. Among them (who got the first dose), 43.33 lakh citizens got both the doses so far.
“Of the 10.48 lakh due for the second dose, 9.47 lakh are due for the second dose of Covishield and 1,00,953 are due for the second dose of Covaxin. These citizens have completed the gap of 84 days (for Covishield) and 28 days (for Covaxin) from the first dose as of November 9. They should get the second dose at the earliest,” said Sanjay Deshmukh, deputy director, health services.
“After the first priming dose, immunity is stimulated. But over time, it contracts. At this time, the second dose improves the breadth of immune response and ensures durability of the same,” said infectious diseases expert Sanjay Pujari, a member of the national Covid task force.
In Covid-19, studies have consistently shown lower vaccine efficacy after the first dose as compared to the efficacy after the second dose. The latest state health department report revealed 70 lakh people had not taken their second jabs.
