AURANGABAD: State advisor on Covid-19 Dr Subhash Salunkhe on Thursday said the current vaccination policy that is giving priority to second dose needs to be reviewed with focus on covering the working population and younger age groups who are still awaiting for the first dose.
Stating that he is of the view that the first dose should also get prioritized by keeping aside some percentage of vaccines, Salunkhe told ToI necessary feedback would be communicated to the state government.
“We cannot afford any health risk to the working population as it could have a cascading impact on the economy and overall growth. On the other hand, the younger population, if it gets infected, can act as a carrier of the virus,” he said, adding the state was well short of vaccination supply.
Amid acute vaccine shortage and also difference of opinion over the time interval between two doses of Covishield, different health experts have demanded that those still awaiting the first dose of the vaccine shoudl be immunized on priority.
Citing the possibility of the third wave of the pandemic, Dr Santosh Ranjalkar, president of Aurangabad chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), said the first dose can give at least some sort of protection to vulnerable groups.
“It is scientifically proven that even the first dose of vaccine can develop sufficient number of antibodies. It will be best in the interest of the society if we focus on the first dose without limiting the vaccination to the second dose during the current shortage of doses,” he said.
Health experts have also projected the example of Telangana, which has increased the time interval between two doses of Covishield to 14-16 weeks from the recommended 12-16 weeks, to vaccinate a maximum number of people with the first dose.
