HYDERABAD: A staggering 1.35 crore beneficiaries in the state are yet to get a single jab of the Covid-19 vaccine largely due to hesitancy by people in the rural areas, authorities said on Tuesday. According to latest details, the state has so far vaccinated close to 1.26 crore beneficiaries (figures up to August 23), while 43 lakh beneficiaries have received the second dose.
In Hyderabad, out of the 26.66 lakh population, 25.96 lakh were administered the first dose up to last week, while the coverage of second doses stands at 35 percent. The Greater Hyderabad area has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases so far, including Ranga Reddy, Medchal and Sangareddy.
The first dose coverage has reached 90 percent of people, while 27 percent of the eligible population has received the second doses, according to official figures. “We are targeting coverage of the entire GHMC by September 9, 2021 as fully vaccinated with one dose at least. A total of 4,846 colonies in the GHMC limits will be covered and declared fully vaccinated,” said a health department official.
Health officials are using 50 static vaccination centres catering to 15,000 beneficiaries per day. About 90 mobile vaccination vans ensure jabs to roughly 20,000 people per day. Over the last few days the number of mobile vaccination vans has increased too, officials said. While officials concentrate on GHMC area, several districts have just around 50 perc ent coverage of first doses so far.
“Some of the districts are lagging behind in vaccination and we are trying to tackle the vaccine hesitancy issue as well as streamline vaccine supplies. We have already identified low coverage areas are sent an update to the department. Earlier supplies were directed more to the GHMC areas, but we will get more supplies once GHMC is fully vaccinated,” said a district medical and health officer.
