THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The initial trend, where the public used to rush to the Covid-19 vaccination centres but shortage of vaccine supply caused even law and order problems, seems to have been reversed.
As per the latest figures of the state government (till Friday), there is a stock of 20.44 lakh doses of Covid vaccine in state.
At the same time, there are more than 12 lakh people, who are yet to turn up for availing the second dose of vaccine even after completing a month after they became eligible for the second dose.
The figures, as presented in the review meeting held by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan (accessed by TOI) shows that the vaccine stock includes 18.27 lakh doses of Covishield and 2.17 lakh doses of Covaxin. The stock are the combined figures of vaccines that were allotted to the state by the Centre as well as that was purchased by the state government.
While Ernakulam district has the highest stock available (over 2.2L doses), the districts, including Alappuzha (1.63L), Kannur (1.21L), Kollam (1.69L), Kottayam (1.37L), Kozhikode (1.70L), Malappuram (1.51L), Thiruvananthapuram (1.45L) and Thrissur (1.61L) have over one lakh doses of vaccine available in their stock.
The state has been able to make optimal use of vaccine doses since the beginning of the vaccination drive. The figures show that the wastage of Covaxin in the state is just 0.11%, while in the case of Covishield, the wastage is a negative figure (-4.76%) which would mean that it could administer vaccines to more number of public than the allotted number of doses.
At the same time, figures show that the initial rate of inflow of public for vaccination has slowed down, especially after administering their first dose, thereby slowing the overall rate of vaccination. As per the figures, there are 8,83,063 persons who are overdue in receiving their second dose of vaccination (who have surpassed more than 16 weeks after receiving the first dose, while they are due for the second dose in 12 weeks) in the case of Covishield and 3,61,402 people in the case of Covaxin (more than six weeks while they are due in four weeks). With 1,77,994 people overdue for their second dose of vaccine, Ernakulam tops the list, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (1,40,300), Malappuram (1,33,988) and Kozhikode (1,08,027).
The vaccination status also shows that the state is fast inching towards completing 100% vaccination with regards to administering the first dose to its population. Till Friday, in the age group of 45 years and above, 96% have been administered the first dose and 68% have been administered the second dose. In the category of those above 60 years, 99.7% have been administered the first dose, while 77% have been administered the second. In the age group of 18-44 years, 86% of the population have been administered the first dose, while 32% have been administered the second.
Even among the tribal population, the vaccination figures show that 90% of those in the age group of 18-44 years and 96% of those above 45 years have been administered the first dose, while it is 44% and 70%, respectively, when it comes to the second dose.
