Only 57% health care workers turn up for Covid vaccination on Day 2 in Vid

Nagpur: Total 3,227 (57.62%) of 5,600 health care workers took the Covid-19 vaccine jab in 11 districts of Vidarbha on Day 2 of the vaccination drive on Tuesday. Five cases of minor adverse event following immunization (AEFI) were reported, of which two were within 30 minutes of inoculation. However, the turnout was more than state’s average of 49.3%.
In the first two days, total number of vaccinated persons has increased to 7,108 in the region, with 3,881 (69.3%) of the targeted 5,600 administered jabs on Day 1, on January 16.As per initial estimate, 1,52,319 more health care workers are required to be vaccinated.
Deputy director of health services, Nagpur division, Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, told TOI, “Vaccination percentage was 58.2, which is better than state’s average. We are exploring possibility of sending schedule to selected persons four-five days in advance, which will improve numbers.” The percentage for the division on Day 1 was 63.21.
The percentage of vaccination was much less in Nagpur on Day 2. Of the targeted 500 persons, only 188 (37.6%) turned up at five centres. This is less than the turnout of Day 1 — 270 (54%) of targeted 500.
Because of the low turnout, wastage of vaccine doses also increased in city and went beyond the permissible limit of 10%. On Day 1, 20 doses (6.9%) of the total 290 had gone waste. On Tuesday, 32 doses were wasted. Vials comprising 220 doses were opened and 188 workers were administered doses. Wastage was 14.54%.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B said, “I visited IGGMCH to understand reasons behind lesser turnout. Nearly 10% workers are not ready to take the jab. Non-availability or inconvenience of selected health care workers on a particular day is the major cause. On Wednesday onwards, we will register around 140 beneficiaries instead of 100 on Co-WIN so that at least 100 would come for the inoculation.”
The NMC on Tuesday administered vaccine to three health care workers of an NGO working for controlling sickle cell cases. This NGO is reportedly working in association with the NMC at Sadar diagnostic centre. These three health care workers became first beneficiaries other than those working in government-run hospitals.
Deputy director of health services, Amravati division, Dr Rajkumar Chavan, said, “Vaccination to private health care workers started on Tuesday in one of the three centres in Akola, which is probably first in Vidarbha. Turnout was 100%.”
In five districts of Amravati division, 1,249 (56.77%) of the targeted 2,200 health care workers took the jab. Vaccination percentage was 78.73 on Day-1.
Five cases of AEFI were registered in two districts — Washim three and two in Chandrapur.
Chandrapur collector Ajay Gulhane said, “A health care worker of Chandrapur GMCH complained of pain where the injection was given. Another health care worker was from Rajura, who complained of giddiness and itching. Both were given primary treatment and they did not require admission.” These two cases were first in Vidarbha to report AEFI within 30 minutes of the vaccination.
In Washim, 3 vaccine recipients complained of mild fever couple of hours later, but there was no need for hospitalization.
Earlier, 205 AEFI cases were registered after the Day 1 of vaccination.