Bengal ahead in providing second dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Bengal is faring much better than many other states in administering the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, despite facing continuous deprivation from the Union government.
The state has administered the second dose of the vaccine to over 40 per cent of the eligible population, that is, those who had been given the first dose, says Health Department data. This places Bengal much ahead of states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala when it comes to administering the second dose.
While Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have inoculated 34 per cent of the first-dose recipients with the second dose, Kerala has inoculated 36 per cent.
Despite the BJP-led Union government’s lackadaisical attitude in providing the vaccines to the state, the state government has laid constant emphasis on inoculating as many as possible with both the doses of the vaccine. The parity between the first and second doses has been maintained by the Health Department.
Moreover, an aim has been set of vaccinating at least 80 per cent of the eligible population with the first dose before the Durga Puja, though, like last year, widespread restrictions on revelry would be placed this year too in order to prevent the festival from turning into a super-spreader event.
First doses have been cumulatively administered to over 3.02 crore people so far and second doses to 1.19 crore people. As many as 2,336 vaccination centres, including both government and private, are operational throughout the state.
After low supplies of vaccine throughout April, May and June, the drive gained momentum when the Union government finally responded to the chief minister’s repeated letters to the prime minister addressing vaccine shortage. Supply improved quite a bit in August, though there were gaps.
The efficient vaccination process of the state government has ensured a negative 7 per cent wastage of vaccines, as a result of which nearly 15 lakh more doses have been administered. In terms of wastage of doses, Bengal has been acknowledged by the Union Health Ministry as one of the most efficient states. Over the last one week, nearly five lakh doses have been administered each day.
