Close to 1.6 crore individuals in India still await their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 16 weeks after their first dose, the longest interval advised between two jabs. More than 1 crore of them are among the elderly, while the remaining belong to other vulnerable groups, including the health and frontline workers as well as those aged above 45 years.

The number of 1.6 crore was calculated by looking at the number of people who had received their first dose as of May 2 (16 weeks back), and comparing it with the number of people who have received their second shot. All the data has been obtained from press releases from the health ministry.

The number of people whose second dose is delayed beyond the recommended interval may be higher as the estimation is based on the 16 weeks gap recommended for Covishield but does not take into consideration the six weeks interval recommended for Covaxin.

The number of individuals eligible for a second shot, after 12 weeks, who are yet to be fully vaccinated is 3.9 crore (this number may also be higher as the minimum recommended interval for Covaxin is 4 weeks compared to 12 weeks for Covishield).

There may be several factors accountable for people not getting their second shots even after the maximum recommended gap. Government data suggest that 12.8 crore individuals from the priority groups of healthcare and frontline workers, 45-59 years of age and people above 60 years of age had received their first dose on May 2. Of these, 11.2 crore have got their second dose.

More than one crore people above 60, about 45 lakh people in the 45-59 years age group, 12 lakh health workers and 1.8 lakh frontline workers from among the individuals who had received their first dose by May 2 had not got their second shot as of Monday morning.

For individuals aged 18-44 years, vaccination was started on May 1 and on May 2, a little more than 86,000 individuals in this age group received the first vaccine dose. More than 1.94 crore in this group have got their second dose by Monday.

In the 18+ population, 48% have received at least one vaccine dose, and only about 14% have got both doses. 

Source: ET Healthworld