HYDERABAD: The rise in cases of Covid-19 has created a ripple effect at vaccination centres, many of which have begun seeing an increase in people coming for booster shots. Many people who were earlier delaying taking the booster doses have now started taking booster shots at vaccination centres. Corporate hospitals have also seen a 5-6 per cent increase in footfalls for vaccination.
“I wasn’t exactly averse to taking the booster dose, but I have delayed it by three months. In the recent weeks, I had come in contact with Covid-19 positive patients twice. I then thought it was better to get a booster shot instead of taking tests every few days as Covid-19 is said to be spreading again,” said A Saikrishna, a techie from Nallagandla.
The state health authorities have insisted that vaccination and wearing masks are the two key precautionary measures to prevent the spread.
As per official statistics, there is currently an overdue of 40 lakh vaccine doses to be taken in the state. Of these, 27 lakh doses are booster doses which are overdue, around 13 lakh second doses are overdue while roughly 40,000 first doses are due. “It is important to complete vaccination by taking both doses and it is also equally important to adhere to precautions against Covid-19, including wearing a face mask and maintaining physical distance,” as per the state government’s Covid-19 advisory.
However, at the government centres, not much of a difference can be seen. The reason, explains Dr Marri Mallikarjun from the King Koti hospital, is that government centres cater to only frontline workers and elderly above 60 years of age. “Most of the elderly, doctors and cops have already taken booster doses. As a result, we are not seeing a jump and the number of people coming for booster shots is like before.”
