The Assam government has pinned high hopes on accelerating booster dose administration through private vaccination centres, at least 10 of which have already started the process for the 18 to 59-year age group in the state from Sunday.(TNL)
Health department officials said there is a need to give a major push to expedite booster dose which is lagging far behind. According to available data of the state health department, only 1.30% of the eligible population has been inoculated with the precaution dose till March 31.(TNL)
“We are hopeful that the number of hospitals administering the precaution dose will go up soon. The private hospitals have been instructed to contact the citizens whom they administered the previous two doses. It will create the much-needed shield for the 18-plus citizens,” director, health, Kamaljit Talukdar, news agancy
He said around seven hospitals administered the booster shots to 18-plus citizens in Guwahati on Sunday, whereas one hospital each in Jorhat, Cachar and Lakhimpur districts administered the booster shot. Talukdar said on the first day, 15 people on an average got vaccinated in most of the private hospitals. In one hospital, the highest, around 35 people got vaccinated. “Utilising the data bases of the private hospitals, they have been able to bring the people to get the booster shot. It will pick up,” said Talukdar.
Health department sources said a renewed vaccination campaign is being planned as people are not coming forward to get the booster shot. “Not only the booster dose, the health department is finding it difficult nowadays to bring those people to the vaccination centre whose second dose is due,” the source said.(TNL)
Though the booster dose — whether Covaxin and Covishield — is being made available to the hospitals for Rs 225, including service charges and GST, it will cost around Rs 390 per dose.
