Almost 37.5%of healthcare workers have received the second round of vaccination against COVID-19.These are those healthcare workers who have received their first shot betweenJanuary 16-18 with the repeat dose in the last three days, according to the officials.

Thegovernment said that eight states and UTs have administered a second dose ofCOVID-19 vaccine to over 60% of eligible healthcare workers. Goa has stood out inachieving a 100% coverage amongst their beneficiaries. Tripura, Gujarat, UP andTelangana had covered more than 80% of appropriate recipients with the seconddose of the vaccine. Administrating the second dose of the vaccine poses a newchallenge in front of the Centre and states because it requires more logisticsin terms of vaccine provisions and human resources along with the follow up ofeligible recipients to ensure they complete their vaccination in time.

Two emergencyvaccines for use and approved by India are Covishield and Covaxin. Bothtwo-dose vaccines are approved with a dosing gap of 4 to 6 weeks.

Healthsecretary Rajesh Bhushan said that it is appreciable that in a country ofIndia’s proportion, complexities and fluctuating level of healthcarefacilities, they were able to ensure that in 14 states and UTs, almost 70-80%of healthcare workers were given their first dose of vaccine. He further saidthat there is scope for improvement in terms of vaccine coverage.

India has completedone month since the vaccination initiative has rolled out. Over 60% ofhealthcare workers and 26.3% of front-line workers in the public and privatesector have received their first dose of the vaccines till Tuesday taking thetotal count to 88.6 lakh, including 2.2 lakh healthcare workers who are currentlyfully vaccinated. The front-line workers such as police and sanitation workerswere given vaccination after the healthcare sector.

Bhushansaid that the efficacy of an immunization programme should be judged by theproportion of the population that was due for a second dose of vaccine andagainst that due population, how much population was covered.

14 statesand UTs have covered more than 70% of the first dose among healthcare workers, whileeight states have vaccinated more than 40% of front-line workers.